New Cards For My Etsy Store

This is my Christmas card for this season. A simple background embossed in gold then the tree was cut out and strips of red, green and gold papers cut to make the iris fold. I will be adding this card to my etsy store this week sometime. This will come as a set of 3 for $10 + postage. You will also receive one free bonus card and thank you card. Each one of my cards comes with an envelope and clear plastic sleeve for protection.

Little Fisher Boy was listed on Saturday, no bites yet but still hoping for that "hook, line and sinker" to go under the water and catch that big one.

This pretty card is called "5 Roses for Your..." could be a Birthday, Anniversary, Wedding, Thinking of you what ever your hearts desire. It's not on Etsy yet, but sometime this week.

To see all my cards at Etsy go to: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com Have a great day and see you on Wordless Wednesday ~ cheers ~ Louise

"Friday Funday" ~~~ Mushrooms Anyone????

Now this is a really good recipe, if you are a mushroom lover. I found this recipe on one of the other blogs I follow and read, she has some wonderful recipes, but this one is my #1 favorite. The above picture was taken after everything was mixed together and ready to put in the oven.

This picture shows the end result.......yummy is all I can say. I ate half the casserole, sure hope the calorie content was not too high!!!! Well, maybe the mushrooms were not the problem, but the seasoned bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. Will have to check the next time I make this little side dish. Here is the recipe:

1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced (I used the Baby Bellas, but I am sure white mushrooms are fine)

2 tablespoons chopped parsley (I used fresh Italian parsley)

2 teaspoons minced garlic (I used the garlic in a jar)

1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated parmesan

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup extra virgin oil

2 tablespoons white wine

In a baking dish toss mushrooms and parsley and garlic. Add 1/4 cup bread crumbs and 1/4 cheese and toss. Drizzle wine and oil and toss together then add remaining bread crumbs and cheese on top. Bake 350 for 20-25 minutes. Enjoy!!!

There you have it, a wonderful side dish of mushrooms. This will be my favorite for many years to come. Here is where I got this wonderful recipe, http://smokymountaincafe.blogspot/2011/09/mushrooms-parmesan.html

Cheers ~ Louise

~Wordless Wednesday~

Cheers ~ Louise

Rain, rain, GO AWAY!!!!

This is what our ceiling is looking like now, see the water dripping, just as if someone turned on the faucet, gosh I am disliking this very much. I want my kitchen back. Oh, see the buckets in the cabinet, they need to be emptied every couple of rains.
Dripping into the buckets below, towels all over to catch the splashes. The bucket needs to be emptied every couple of hours when it rains this much.

Lately it has been dripping down through the cabnets where my dishes are, catching lots of drips on the counter...........oh please God, I have had enough!!!
Well, I hope you all are having a great day.........fret not and trust in God!!!! Cheers ~ Louise

A Little Bit of Comfort Food

Started the week off with "a little bit of comfort food" Mac and cheese with little smoky sausages for spice!!! Was delicious to say the least. Here's a picture after the fact. Just followed the instructions for a box of mac and cheese then added the sausages, no special surprise ingredients added to this little gourmet treat. Will keep the husband happy for the day. Dinner tonight will include fish, salad and the mac and cheese dish, (if there is any left).

Not alot going on this week, high points are going to Betty's tomorrow to make some cards with a few ladies, Social Security check comes Wednesday, so shopping for food. Making a new recipe, either Italian Beef Stew, or Chicken Paprikash. Thursday, I go to Sandi's to make cards with a few other ladies. Share program on Saturday.

Need to work out in the yard this week sometime and get everything "Winter Ready" Next spring will have to be a little different, need to back off on buying plants and such, there is too much shade in the back yard so vegies don't want to grow. Oh well, guess it is alright, we are getting older, so the less work there is the better off we will be.

Well, time to shut this blog down for the day........watch for my next recipe, should be delicious also.

Cheers ~ Louise

A Bor-ing Blog

Yep........that is what this blog is.....a Bore (not even sure if bore is spelt right) who cares, no one reads this blog anyways!!! This may be a very short one.....have no pics and no ideas to write, guess I am leading a boring life right now.

We're trying to get some money scrounged up to pay for part of the roof that leaks into the kitchen....looks like we may have to sell some stuff, like gold and silver laying around the house, which is not much. Oh well. I am tired of this leaky ceiling, 8 years of aggrevation, thanks to Steven Carey, because he cut corners to have more money in his pocket we have been living with a leaky roof!!!! Hopefully it gets fixed by this winter.

Lets, see what else.................guess I will close this blog for now...................who will read this, I wonder, be sure to leave a comment. Well, it is 12noon, the sirens are sounding ~ cherrio!!!!

A New Fall Card a Mini-Vacation and 9/11

My new "Autumn Leaves of Fall" card just listed in my etsy store, go take a peek at: http://www.etsy.com/listing/81503505/autumn-leaves-of-fall-1

Yes, those are my feet!!!

We took a mini-vacation on Saturday, a ride on Butte Mor and Lake Winnebago.....was a very beautiful day for a boat ride.

Then we dropped anchor near High Cliff (maybe 5 miles out) and ate chips and cantalope....aahhhhhh, yes that was my kind of day, for sure!

Any problems you might have just seem to fade away. Yes, that was a piece of heaven on earth!!!!

Here is JP and I enjoying our day out on the boat.

Probably like you, I watched some of the Memorials and stories that went along with 9/11 today. I remember where I was that day....had just started a new job at the church, maybe about a month previous. So things were still pretty new to me. Don't remember who came with the news, but instanly the TV was turned on in the conference room and there we all stayed, transfixed by what was happening in NY. A hard day to forget, forever engraved in our minds. It should have been a day that caused many people to come back to Jesus.....(and maybe it did) but just like everything else....we cry out to God for help, He helps and we soon forget that He was there to help!!! God Help The USA ~ a Nation slowly dying because of it's sin's against you ~ Have mercy of us a sinful nation!!!!!

Well, you all have a great day ~ 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

A Relaxing (Busy) Anniversary Week-end

Saturday's Morning Glory Flower♥

I thought this was a very pretty morning glory showing it's true colors.....lovely isn't it? We celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary. Not exstravagantly, but within our means. Friday was a trip to Neenah, buy a sub at Subway ($14) and sat by Kimberly Point and watched the water, and things around us, was a beautiful day. Even got on a swing for a little while.

Saturday off to the Share program and Festival foods for a $7 box (included lots of goodies, toilet paper, styrofoam plates, juices, candy bars, noodles, sauce, cake mix to name a few) and food at share and order for next month. For our afternoon excursion we went to Krieger Jewelers and pawned JP's school ring, my siam silver and a bronze medalion from 1934. Pay back was $160. I think I will look through my jewelery box and see what else I can find. Found out the ring we bought last year at a pawn shop was worth $599-$799 new...............that was nice to know. Not sure what it is worth now....maybe not as much.

Went to Sam's club to pay a bill and buy some peanut butter and lettuce, tried some samples then off to StevieB's for a pizza buffet........that was good, had salad and about 5 different kinds of pizza. Onions/pepper, Philly/steak, Hamberger/beacon, Taco, BLT.........was very good but filling! Then we went home and I fell asleep for a couple of hours. ($14)

Sunday was Church. After Church we went home, let the dogs out then went out to eat at the Wisconsin Ave diner. JP had pearch and I had a Senior Hamberger, fries and salad. Then we both had ice-cream cones. ($18) We then went to an Estate sale.....nice stuff, got a new bretta water pitcher for $1.50 and some ceramic easter eggs that should have been 1.75, but I think I got everything for $1.75. Went home, got the dogs and went to the Golden Goat and turned in aluminum cans at 60 cents a lb. that was the highest we had ever seen..........so we got $3.12 for 3 boxes of cans....not bad. Then off to KK to the antique shop to try and sell some stuff............maybe awhile before we ear anything. I am selling two hand blown candle holders with candles for $30, JP took two things priced at $14. Every little bit helps......we are trying to get some money together to get our roof patched up so it does not leak.....before the winter, hopefully.

Well, after this busy weekend, we went home and we both zonked out and slept till 8pm....whew that was a busy afternoon and the end of a busy weekend!!!!!!

Somethings we shall do again............1. Go to Kimberly point for a picnic and take the dogs with. 2. Go back to StevieBs. 3. Go to the Antique store to see if our stuff sold. 4. Go through my jewelery and see if I have any gold and silver to pawn. 5. We shall go back to Wisconsin Ave Diner, cause the food is good.....but only if we have a $3 off coupon....it's the only way to go.

Well, time to close..........may not blog till September.......so have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!!! Cheers ~ Louise

Our Anniversary Weekend♥

Well.........38 years ago on the 27th we were married by the Justis of Peace at City Hall in Chicago. Not the the most beautiful place to get married but it was what JP wanted. He just could not take time out from racing to get married in a church. So, at 11:00 am on a Saturday we were married and at 3:00 pm we were signing the papers on the closing of our house. By the afternoon we were moving into our little house in Arlington Heights. I had put my foot down, and told JP I would not move into that house until we were married. We lived together for 2 1/2 years before getting married. If I had it to do over again......no, I would not live with someone before being married, some how the beauty of marriage is destroyed, it just is not the same after marriage.

Lighthouse on the point...........our excursion to Neenah.
A visitor dropping in to see if we dropped some food or............would throw some to him/her.

♥

JP took the day off today from work, so we did some errands, then went to Neenah, bought a subway and went and had lunch at Kimberly Point by the lighthouse. We have decided to do this again and maybe just pack a lunch and take the dogs for an afternoon "break away" we really need to learn how to kick back and enjoy..............................♥

Tomorrow the 27th, we'll go out for lunch at Stevie B's, and a steak in the evening some place....not sure as yet where we are going. That is another post I guess.


Well, I guess I will close this blog for tonight and continue on tomorrow. Pray God will keep those in the path of "Hurricane Irene" safe and not many lives will be lost.................Be safe people on the east coast.


Louise

A Vanishing Summer and a Pretty Flower

HELP!!!!!! The summer is vanishing before our very eyes!!!! BUT.........I love this time of the year though. I can feel the crisp fall in the air just around the corner. Noticed yesterday, flowers, shrubs and grass etc. have stopped growing, or maybe they are just drying up for lack of rain, but, sad for sure. Everything comes to an end. Yep.....life also comes to an end. Heard this weekend that the husbands aunt died at 93, now that was a long time to live.....I think she lived well though, she lived a good life. Didn't know much about her or what she did for a living. She and the uncle John lived in California and had two daughters, that's all I know. Oh well, will send a sympathy card in the next few days.

The above picture is an orgami flower I made........pretty huh? I just learned how to make them a month or so ago.....taught a class also, guess I am not a very good teacher though, only two ladies got a handle on making the flowers, the other 3 ladies were scratching their heads as they left...."how did she do that? I don't get it?" Oh well, I guess we all can't be teachers. I have to come up with another idea for a card....not sure at this point what I will do.

Well, I guess I better get this show on the road and start my week. May be going boating this week with Sandi and out to lunch with Shirley. ALSO out to dinner with JP cause it is our 38th anniversary on Saturday.......WOW where did that time go????? Seems like only yesterday we were young and wild and living our life the way WE wanted............life sure does not slow down for anyone!!!!!!

Cheers ~ Louise

Blooming Hibiscus and A Poem

What a lovely bloom.
The creativity of God is unlimitless in the biggest things down to the littlest things.

Here is a poem I wrote on July 23, 2011 ~ I was actually singing the first couple of sentences while doing dishes, then thought, maybe I better write the words down so I don't forget them. So here are the words, the song completely escapes me, maybe you can create your own song. Enjoy.

"Stand Strong"

Stand strong, stand strong
Until the very end,
Stand strong, stand strong
Till you see your reward.

Be brave, be brave
Though you see no end to your pain,
Be brave, be brave
For your joy will come in the morning.

Stand strong and be brave
When the dew is fresh and the birds sing,
Stand strong and be brave
And Bring Glory to God.

Louise Gatti

Boat Ride on the Lake

This is one of my favorite pictures to take on our little excursions....a seagull sitting on a bouy.
Would like to get a pelican on a bouy someday, but they fly away to quickly!
We were anchored down and having lunch on the lake, what peacefulness.

The water was so smooth and quiet.
You could skip a pebble over the water.
In the Menasha Locks, we were being followed by "Anna".

Here we go.....taking off to who knows where!

Captain Tyler.....at your service! Enjoying the view. Fun was had by all, these mini vacations are just what the Doctor ordered!!!! Next outing is next week, depending on the weather of course.

Have a great day and enjoy these summer days....not many left!!!!

Cheers ~~~~~ Louise

My 2010 Hibiscus Plant

Pretty Hibiscus flower!!! I think this plant might be one of my favorite flowers. Bought this plant last summer and managed to nurse it along through the winter months down in my basement. Along with this plant I had bought a chartruse pink hibiscus, that one did not make it. But this plant weathered the storm and made it through.

There are 5 more blooms on it, maybe this week it shall show it's beautiful colors again. God sure can create some beautiful things, there is no way this pretty flower comes from the "big bang theory" nope, sorry!!!!! I think God takes great joy in creation. Just as He created you and I, He creates beautiful things for us to enjoy AND He gives us the creative ablility to also create beautiful things to enjoy. Such a blessing!!!!

Oh, guess what, on that same line.....creating flowers. I am going to become a part of a group, we make cards and teach the others how to make that card, bringing along all the supplies needed to do it.....my first teaching project with be the folded orgami paper flower. Although it is not a card, the lady organizing the group wanted me to show how to make the flower. As that has been all that I have been doing lately....I said okay. So I guess I am looking forward to doing this and then learning other different ideas in making cards and such!!!!

Cutting this blog short for tonight, talk to you soon on some other subject.

Cheers ~ Louise

♥Happy Birthday Tilda was in a Treasury Today♥Plus an Interview with the Wisconsin Crew Team Blog♥

Go take a peek at: http://www.allthingstangled.blogspot.com/ then follow her link to Etsy.com which will take you to her treasury on etsy.

Watch tomorrow, for I will be featured on the Wisconsin Crew Team blog. Address to follow. Okay....here is the address for my interview http://wist-etsy.blogspot.com/2011/07/fridays-featured-fabricator-cards-4-u.html probably will be there for a couple of days at least, some thoughts were changed and some words too, but the idea is still there. Thought I had all my punctuation fine-tuned, but alas, when your interview goes through a second person, things said get changed alittle, kinda like the "telephone game". Oh Well, that's life!!!

See ya...Louise

A New Addition to My Cards on Etsy

A new addition to my Etsy store. Learned how to make this lovely little flower from a magezine from the UK which I bought from JoAnn Fabrics. Have made quite a few and gave 3 away. If I could tell you how to make it or do a teaching video, I would. But, alas have no video camera to do it.

Well, so much for today, getting kinda tired right now and want to add this cute little gem to my Etsy store tonight. Have a good day. Louise

My Friend Died Today

June 24, 1947 ~ July 17, 2011

She died after a 2 1/2 year battle with cancer.

She will be missed dearly, but I know she is with Jesus today. That is by far a better place to be. Sad for us, but happy for her, you were a blessing to know.

We did alot of fun and wild things together. Trips to Kansas and Door County, Church, praying together, waving flags, letters to Jesus, visions, music and singing, long talks on the phone and in the car and after church, eating out, celebrating birthdays, Christmas, and whatever else came up.

Friends come and go in our lives, and then there are friends that will be remembered forever!

That is you Chrissy dear, rest in peace!!!

Enjoy eternity with your best friend, Jesus!!!

♥Happy 11th Day of the Month♥

Hi everyone........well, it's the 11th day of July....where is this month going to???? Winter starts December 21st.......are you ready? Hahahaha.....laugh now pay later!!!!

Was looking for some winter pictures from the last couple of years.........mmmm can't seem to find them, once I do, I will put them up in this blog.....just a little reminder of the way things were and what is to come. So I say, enjoy the summer and sun and warmth, it may end all too soon!!!!!!

May be going out on the boat with Sandi this week. We went out last Friday and I got a bit of sunburn, forgot the sun lotion, which reminds me, when I go to Wal-mart must get some. Sandi took some pictures of me on the boat (I forgot my camera) here is one.

Look at that beautiful water, so calm and serene. My face is getting a little baked.....yikes!!!! Notice you only have my head.....we decided to leave out the bottom half...hahahhaha! I have started another diet, maybe in a few months the bottom half will be toned down a bit. You know, turning 65 can be a piece of HELL!!!!! It is said that the years of retirement are the GOLDEN YEARS........Ha!!! I heard it is called the TARNISHED YEARS!!! Guess it is all in how you look at it....I am not sure at this point......I will let you know in a few years.

I mentioned starting another diet....this one will be about fruit smoothies in the morning and juicing vegetables in the afternoon or there abouts. Maybe I will do this for about a week or so. I saw of documentary about this guy in Australia that juiced for 60 days and lost 90 lbs, don't think I will be that radical, but he found that a lot of meds he was on, he did not need after a couple of months cause he was getting all the nutrients and vitamins needed, course he exercised also, I shall just walk and bike.....and go boating with Sandi!!! Here is the website: http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/ check it out, saw it on http://www.netflex.com/

Here is a recipe for a delicious fruit smoothie:
Handful of blueberries, 3-4 strawberries, 3-4 pieces of cantaloupe, 3-4 Tbls water, blend then add blueberry yogurt and blend again.....mmmmmmmm good!!!

Have a great day and will be back with some juicing recipes....cheerio ~ Louise

Happy 4th of July and More Flowers from the Garden Walk

God's Fireworks in the natural

White Columbine
A closer look at the White Columbine

Daisies
A mature Smoke Bush.....I would like one of these in the front of my house someday. A Beautiful burgandy, purple and red bush shimmering in the sun.
White PioniesPaprika Yarrow ~ cute huh?
So there you have it a tour of the Garden Walk and also God's Fireworks in the natural. Have a great day and remember those that went before you and died so that you may be FREE!!!!
Cheers ~ Louise

More Garden Walk Pictures

A Yellow Hanging Bogoina plant in the midst of a beautiful garden.
This is a picture of the side of the house with a rain barrell that catches the water for all the plants. I wish we could do this but the water that comes off the roof is black from faulty cheap shingles.

This waterfall is at the High School in the court yard. Made by the students.

I love the sound of a water fall.

This is the center of the court yard. the plants, walking stones, most everything is done by the students.

I got this picture of a REAL Dragon Fly in the High School Court Yard.....cool huh? He stayed long enough so I could catch him on my camera.

Now this is a picture of a Dragon Fly walking stone made by a student in art class. If I could figure out how to make something like this, I would like to try. Well I hope you like the tour of the garden walk. I have a few more pictures but they are of flowers and bushes....maybe in the next blog I will show just the flowers I took. Have a good day and take 'er easy and stay cool!! Cheers ~ Louise