Some Wednesday Card Making from 2 Weeks Ago...Already!!!

Hi there everyone....can you believe it....May is almost over!!! This sure was a tough month on all sides. Physically, financially and emotionally....still trying to come up for air!!!! We had Doctor appointments, a tooth pulled, extra $$$ spent for co-pays and teeth, taxes due on the house, sometimes it seems like I just get done paying a bill and it shows up in my mail box again! How does one keep their emotions at an even keel??? I don't know, have not figured that out yet and here I am...71 years old!!! My mother never told me....everything was always "calm and quiet" by her. Geez....I'm still waiting for calm and quiet days.

Well, probably the only thing that keeps me sane is my card making. At least I can make sense of that. Made these cards 2 weeks ago at Betty's. The top card was interesting. Sponged in the brown, then stamped the trees and embossed. Then colored in the brown with copic markers...stamped the ducks and Thinking of  you. The bird is a die cut. Really nice card, maybe this could be a sympathy card also.

These next two cards....I have always liked these two girls....they come from Stampin'up. Betty got these stamps from www.wish.com for 1 dollar for the set. The only thing different is that the girls are smaller then the original set AND you have to wait 4-6 weeks for the stamps to show up in your mail box. Guess they come on a slow boat from China. They still make for a nice card though. I really like the bottom card the best, the girl and saying are stamped on a grey card stock then white and grey pencil used to color in the girl.

The above card was embossed with a folder, sponged in the blue and then speckles to outline the swirls. The girl was stamped, a second stamped girl was colored and cut and pasted to the original girl....cute huh??

The card below with the birthday mouse was cute...just colored in with copic markers. Sweet and simple.

Now this card.....was not made at Betty's. I have a friend whose birthday was coming up, and found this pug saying and doggie at the Revealing party last month. This is what I came up with for a card for her. She loved it!!! 

The side panel is braided. I had seen this technique a long time ago and wondered how it was made. Finally found the directions to make it myself. Colored in the pug with copic makers, the blue is iridescent blue taped on white card stock, then run through the cuttlebug with a doggie paw print folder.

It has been SO warm here...we go from cold and snow to warm and 90 degrees in about a month....how crazy is that. But I guess I will take this weather change, it's a breeze compared to being in flood areas and volcano areas!! That's for sure!!! So much going on all around the world, such devastation everywhere. Do you think God is trying to get our attention???? He has mine!!!

Well time to close here....need to get something done around the house...like maybe the dishes in the sink. I have some planting to do....a few tomato plants. Got my onions planted, radishes, carrots, lettuce, cucumbers, pepper plant. We did something different this year. I got 2 big planters and dirt. I have one on the drive way, where it will get more sun. The other planter is along side the fence, it should get about 4-6 hours of sun. I don't have to bend down to plant....the ground is not so far away at least!!! I took pictures of the planters...JP and I were putting wheels on the planter in the driveway, so I can roll it around to catch the sun rays....we'll see how that works. Next blog I will show you how my garden is growing.

Have a good evening and keep looking up.....better days are coming, here, there, or in the air!!!! Cheers ~ Louise

Solar Sun Fountains and Kylie

Hi there everyone....hope you had a nice Father's Day Week-end. We had a nice one. Quiet with a little bit of work mixed into it.

JP's Father died in the 90's. My father died in 1961. My step-father just died last month. I got through it though with not too much pain and sadness. Pops has lived in Las Vegas since '86 and I probably saw him 4 or 5 times in 31 years. The last time was when my mother had died in 2001 and I went for her Memorial and her ashes were spread in the mountains of Las Vegas. A lady friend (who they grew close to and called her their daughter) spread my mother's ashes and she planned on spreading Pop's also. She knew I would not be coming out there, so she would take care of it. End of a chapter in my life.

On to happier news. So this is part of my back yard....it's coming along nicely. I bought this new Solar Sun Fountain, in the red planter. It came all the way from China....really cute I think....I moved it today, so it is in more sun. Doesn't work well in shade.

This little fountain, I picked up at a Plant Sale in May. Paid $1 and the pond container was free. The above fountain......$30 and the container $15.....my splurge. Love my Flamingos, they like the pond too.

Kylie came for a visit while I was playing in my little garden. Yesterday I finally put up my bamboo fencing for a little bit of privacy from the neighbors stuff that I have to look at everyday from my Kitchen window......sometimes gets depressing. The  neighbor lady says that sometime this summer they will be putting up a taller privacy fence.....can't be soon enough for me. I will take pictures of my new bamboo fencing as soon as I get the second section up. What I have done so far....looks really good.

I might have too much in this little section, but when I sit on my bench, I am always looking at everything and deciding if something should be moved or a weed pulled....sitting on my bench does not last long.

Looks like in both these pictures that Kylie is enjoying the little fountain also....probably the sun feels good on her back. I should take lessons from her on how to just stand around and relax.

I have one tomato plant growing in a pot....it's getting pretty big and needs lots of watering. Beefsteak...looking forward to those BLT's.

I have some Beefsteak tomato plants growing in the front of the house and one between the two garages. This year I shall see which place grows the best tomatoes....I want to get a cucumber plant....but have not been able to find one. I wonder, is it to late to start some seeds???

Went to Menards today and got a Wave Petunia plant, Sweet Basil plant and a Mosquito plant....sounds interesting. I might plant it by my park bench, so I can enjoy my backyard. There is still so much to do....like I said, by the time I get things done, Fall will be here...oh well.....then comes winter and we start all over again.

Well, time to close here, it's going on Midnight and I still have not gone downstairs to work on a few cards. I got another Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin' up yesterday and made a few cards from that kit....I should take some pictures real soon.

You have a great day, keep looking up, better days are coming.

Cheers ~ Louise

Some Vintage Items 4 My Etsy Store

Hi everyone. Hope you are enjoying the wonderful 50-60 degree weather. I think the weather is agreeing with everyone, there seems to be a smile on most of the faces I see during the day...so that is a good sign that Spring is finally here.

I've been a bit busy here. Just got finished with an order of 500 punched out hearts. As soon as the order is picked up on Etsy, off goes the package to the Post Office tomorrow. It sounds like she is a wedding planner or something to that effect....we'll see. I think I was her first Etsy purchase ever....so hopefully she was happy with the service and will return for some more hearts.

I finally finished the application to hopefully get our roof fixed by "Rebuilding Together" They get funds from people and company's to help senior citizens stay in their homes, getting big projects done, like roofs, plumbing, weatherization, heating or whatever needs to be fixed. Someone is coming Tuesday to take a look at the roof and ceiling......gosh, I hope this time it can get fixed. Last time I tried getting help from this group, there were no funds. Another one of those "we'll see" situations.

Isn't this the most sweetest elephant, he's a planter, I found one on Etsy almost like him.....for $22 + postage. I don't know, I think I could get into collecting Elephants. I found an elephant creamer in blue...was going to sell him on Etsy....but I fell in love, he makes me smile every time I look at him......I will take a picture of him in a couple of days and post him so you can smile too.

Here's another view of this sweet elephant. JP brought in some inpatients in the fall....so that is what you are looking at...I am going to root them for planting outside when it gets warmer out.

I picked up this cup and saucer at the thrift store along with the elephants and a couple other cups and saucers. I will be putting this cup and saucer in my Etsy store in the next few days. It's Duchess Bone China made in England in the 70's. Searching other Etsy stores and seeing what prices are going for, for this particular tea cup and saucer, I might sell for $10 - $15....I'll probably check Ebay also. So I've got some more time to do more homework.

It's a very pretty little cup and saucer.....time to take some time to smell the roses with some "Earl Grey" tea and a crumpet with jelly. I think the English have a very wonderful tradition....a cup of tea at 4:00pm....yes, I should do that too.

Time to close here for awhile....talk to you later and keep looking up. The weekend is almost here. Cheers ~ Louise

Tomato Zucchini Tart and New Pots'n Pans

 Hi Everyone.....how's your day going?? I thought it was time to change my blog header. That is a picture of my "column" Apple tree. It's been growing for years and years. This is the first year that it was covered with blossoms, hope that is a good sign that I will have lots of apples this year. I must spray the tree this time around. I have gotten some apples but they were always buggy and the birds and squirrles got the apples before this human could. So, hopefully this year we all will be happy.

So in the above picture you see my tart in the making. I used fillio sheets, about 5-6 sheets, sprayed each sheet and laid them on each other, criss-crossing them. You can use your favorite pie crust or a puff pastry also.  The filling is anything you would like, I used Ricotta cheese, one egg and Mozzarella cheese, (you can use goat cheese, parmisian, garlic, lemon zest or herbs for seasoning. I used chopped chives from the garden.

 I then layered the pie with green and yellow zucchini, red onion (if you are not an onion fan, omit) and sliced tomatos alternating. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with herbs or basil and parmasian cheese.

 Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. One good tip, lay the tomatoes on a paper towel to soak up the juices so it won't be so juicy in the pie. You can see in this picture, the tomato juice laying on the vegies. It didn't hurt the taste though. It was really good and I will make this again, for sure. Don't think it is carrying a whole lot of calories according to a few other recipes I have found. Another recipe I have, "zucchini and ricotta galette" is on the list to try.

Here you see my NEW set of stainless steel (made in China) pots 'n pans I just received via UPS. I guess this would be my 5th set of pots 'n pans since we have been married (40 years - yikes, where did that time go.)

Anyways, I got the set through "Silkies" a nylon place that I have been a member of, for eons, I want to get out of the membership, but have to spend my points.........I had 55 points, these pots 'n pans were 47 points leaving me with 8 more points then I can cancel my membership. A person can use just so many pairs of nylons, knee-his and socks. I don't wear nylons much anymore so I do have a well established inventory of nylons and knee-hi's now. Time to cancel and save some money. The pots 'n pans only cost me $12 for postage and shipping.........but it is hard to tell how much I spent on nylons, knee-hi's and socks over the years??!!??!!

Well, I worked on my water fountain last night for about 5 hours.....let's just say, it is coming along fine. I am very sore today, my feet and fingers were cramping up last night from all that heavy lifting, but I am better today. Ready for another round today. Which reminds me, I must close this blog for today as I need to get ready to go to the store and get JP his prunes. So you all take care and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

Have a great Memorial Week-end and remember those that died that you could live and enjoy your freedoms.

Time Out Today........Celebrate B-day ♥

Kylie my doggie encircled in pretty snowflakes, holly and corner scrolls. Heard about a new program  called www.picmonkey.com  You can play with your photos, add text and edit, add things (like I did above). Be going there more often to see what else I can do.

Today we celebrated my birthday going out to the "Outback" again. Steak again with aussi fries and asparagus. JP had a fried chicken steak and garlic potatoes/beans. We shared one of those blossom onions with that special sauce. MMMMM~good!! (not a whole lot of calories.....NOT!!!)

Bought a new coat at "Burlington Coat Factory". We have lived in the Fox Cities for 25 years and I have never been to that store.........amazing!!! Guess I will go back there again, kinda liked shopping there, they have everything!!!! Anyways my coat is a 'Calvin Klein" coat which of course was made in CHINA!!  It was a $120.00 coat and paid $60.00, it is black and the material is soft. I like this coat very much as it has snaps, no buttons and no zippers. I just did not want to fool with buttons and zippers. My old coat had buttons and lost them a couple of times. The lining needed to be redone and the coat cleaned. I was figuring it would cost $100 to have cleaned and lining fixed. So I shall wear my old coat around the house......looks like an old rag....but I still love it.

Still have not finished my Christmas cards, maybe in the next few days they will get done. Got my first Christmas card today.......nothing like being really early. Finally figured out what I will send my 87 year old stepfather. He doesn't want me to send $$$, he can't see to do cross word puzzles anymore, no sense sending him food or coffee, cause I don't know what he likes. He liked a little toy I sent him last year that could be wound up and it flipped backwards. He said he liked that. SO I thought today, I will send him a stuffed toy dog..........for the person you don't know what to send......send a stuffed toy ♥♥♥

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day at a friends house. Food was delicious and turkey out of this world. She cooked it in a nesco so it made the turkey VERY tender. I really need to get a turkey for JP and I, as we really like turkey sandwiches and casseroles. We sat around watching football. She got new front room furniture.....the recliner had a massage and heater.....was that ever comfy to lay in, could have fallen asleep several different times.

Well, time to close here. Want to go downstairs and ride my bike for a couple of miles and make a few more cards. So talk to you later and keep looking up for  your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise