In Answer To My Prayers...and The Tree Finally Came Down!

Yep..........hip-hip-hooray!!! I have hated this tree for 22 years and FINALLY it came down yesterday with the help of the City of Appleton. I am soooooo thankful that this tree met it's demise. It was a messy tree that caused many problems.

It's name is "Siberian Ash"......it should have stayed in Siberia. I never cared for it's spreading of little seeds, on a windy day it would look like snow....but those little seeds would start to grow into little trees with roots going so deep, it was sometimes hard to pull out those roots and they had to be snipped off. I was always pulling those little trees, like weeds, before they got started, all summer long. Fall would come and this Siberian Ash was always the last to drop it's leaves and there were little spots on the leaves.....diseased???? There I was, after raking leaves from my "Soft Maple".......finally this dreaded tree would drop it's leaves. They weren't big leaves, no, little leaves that were hard to rake!!! 

Another thing it did was drop limbs and twiggy branches all over our yard after a storm and there I was, picking up after it. My biggest fear was that we would have a bad storm and it would fall and land on our house while knocking out the electric. The above picture was taken from my back yard.....I think now we will get more sun in our backyard. This tree was done growing and was matured, so the workers said. When I pass by walking Kylie, I shall count the circles to see just how old this tree is.

In this picture, the storm of April 10th caused a lot of problems for the neighbors. You can see all the limbs this tree dropped plus one of the branches sheared the neighbors electric meter and shut down electric for us and the rest of the neighbors on this block.

Many times I would pray....God, get rid of that tree. I often thought I would drive some copper nails into the base of that tree....trees don't like copper and it kills them, so I have been told. So, God took care of it........I was not looking forward to the stuff this tree drops, the seeds, leaves, branches, twigs. This kind of tree needs to be in a forest, not in the "city limits" Amen and Good-bye you miserable tree.......Good-bye!!!! I was not a fan and will not miss you!!!

We are celebrating today, so you all have a great day and enjoy the season of Spring and
 keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers and more Cheers ~ Louise

Some Happy Birthday Elephant Cards

Hello everyone, how is your day going??? It is bright and sunny today with a chance of being in the 70's this week-end.  Maybe I will work in the yard the next couple of days. The tulips are popping up along with the crocus's. Noticed my chives are popping up too!! Have not checked the rhubarb yet....but I am sure they are about to make their appearance too.

Added some birthday cards to my blog today, will be putting these cards into my Etsy store today and tomorrow. I am trying to get more of an array of cards in my store....I don't have a high traffic flow, so maybe doing a couple of cards a day for a week might help, may hurt the pocket book, but it is worth a try. I do promote my cards on different teams and get lots of lookers, but no buyers. Hopefully with the economy picking up, things will be better on Etsy for everyone.

Both these elephant cards are called "Polaroid Picture" technique where I taped off a rectangle or square then dabbed ink on the inside then stamped the image in the same color ink. Then inked in red the hats and balloon.

Both are Birthday Cards and will be for sale in my Etsy store for $3.00 + postage a piece. The inside of both cards say "Simply enjoy it all." This still is cheaper then buying a card at the store....I have seen cards for $5.00 to $8.00 at high end stores. Low end stores are $1.00 to 3.00, but you get what you pay for and my cards are all handmade with much love and creativity goes into each card.

Well, time to close here for today. Have to go get some things done. Chicken in the crock pot for today. Will be a simple recipe:
1 whole chicken (fryer or roasting)
pam spray
salt and pepper
seasonings
Pam spray lightly your crockpot. Place whole chicken in pot. Cover with lid and cook on high for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, put on low and cook for 6-8 hours. DO NOT ADD WATER!! The chicken makes it's own juice and gets golden brown.

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

Wordless Monday..............

Me....on a Monday morning..........another cup of coffee please!!!

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

Baked Oatmeal, Wolves and Ice

Hi everyone.........how's your day going??? We had a fun weekend, went to an Antique Show at the Tri-County Ice Rink, so much old stuff and sooooo much jewelery!!! I did end up buying an old ring for $12, fit me good on Saturday but now today, it flops around, should have gone with a smaller size. Oh well, it will fit again on another day.
The above picture is "'Baked Oatmeal with fruit" which I made Saturday night for Sunday morning. Needless to say it did not last for Sunday Morning, half of it was gone. I was going through my recipes and found this one, still having some bananas on the counter, was a good excuse to use them up. Here is the recipe:
1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or I used almonds
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
pinch of salt
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooked slightly
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2-3 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen), divided (I used strawberries and blueberries)
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish. In a medium bowl, combine the rolled oats, half of the nuts, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir with a fork to combine. In a liquid measuring cup, combine the maple syrup, milk, egg, butter and vanilla. spread the sliced bananas in a single layer over the bottom of the baking dish. Top with half the berries. Sprinkle the dry oat mixture over the fruit in an even layer. Pour the liquid ingredients evenly over the oats. Sprinkle the remaining nuts and berries over the top. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the top is browned and the oats have set. Let cool 10 minutes before serving. 

In this picture you are seeing my freshly made "Wolf" cards. I really like th is wolf, I borrowed it from a friend, so had to stamp lots of wolves so I could have lots of wolf cards. These cards will be in my Etsy store today or tomorrow. I will be selling them for $11.00 a set. Otherwise the cards would sell for $3.00 a piece. The inside of the cards are stamped with Happy Birthday and Thinking of you.

Here is a close up, I like the diamond cuts and sewing lines adds a little something to all the cards.

Another picture of the ice that caused so much trouble on April 10th. Our electric went out for 7 hours and when it came back on I was not able to go on the internet........had to have an upgrade via AT&T. All in all, it turned out okay. I guess the one thing I notice the most is how much I depend on Electric and most certainly take it for granted.  What, oh what will we do when the electric goes out for good, like in the TV show "Revolution"????

Well for the last hour and half I have been watching the news.....The Boston Marathon was running and two explosions took place at the finish line as the runners were coming to the end.....2 people dead and 23 wounded. They don't know if it was bombs, but it might be what it was. How sad. This will be news for quite a few days. I know a lady that was going to run the Boston Marathon but decided to go to California for the marathon out there.....I think God directed her steps for sure. She could have been in Boston and got hurt. How Great is God to care for even the little things in our lives!!!!

Well, time to close and go make JP his lunch and dinner as he is getting ready to go to work. I need to get dressed as I still have my robe on while typing this blog. So you all take care and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh!!!
Cheers ~ Louise

Missing In Action ~ But Still Alive

Hi Everyone....hope you all made it through the storms that passed by your way. The above picture is our backyard...as you can see a few limbs fell and the yard is under water, almost like a little river back there. We have lived in this house for 22 years and it seems the last couple of years there has been lots of water back there...not sure why.

We really need to get the tree trimmed as it has been losing lots of limbs...last year a big limb fell on my swing and bent it in the middle....it still works but is not as cute as it used to be. 

In this photo you can see how the limbs are weighted down by ice. Was such a strange day with the wind blowing and the sound of the cracking ice......was almost an eerie sound. Didn't want to be out there too long for fear of getting hit by ice.

The next store neighbor is cleaning the front yard. That big old tree (which I dislike cause one day it may drop on our house) dropped a lot of limbs and his electric meter broke from the house, causing no electric for him or the neighbors across the street. We were fine till about 11am.

Here you can see limbs fell on both houses across the street AND on their electric meters cutting them off also. It sure was a mess. I was thankful we did not have a mess to clean up and then about 11am or so the electric went out on us too. 

I had to get really creative, getting JP ready for work was a challenge. I brought out the fondue pot that works with sternos, so I was able to heat up my coffee and make him some soup and peanut butter sandwiches.  He usually likes a smoothie for his lunch, so rather then that just gave him a bowl of fruit and yogurt.

Another problem that arose with no electric.............uge.....no computer. How in the world do you keep in-touch with the outside world????? Well, I had my transistor radio so I could listen to Rush, Sean and Mark, so that was okay........that passed the time. But when you realize, we take electric for granted don't we.....what would we do without it??? How did people do without it in the old days??? I just don't know.

The electric finally went back on about 6pm......whew.....I sure was happy. I had the candles ready for a long night. So, when the electric went on, what was the first thing I turned on??? Right, the computer.......everything working but the Internet....nope, could not get on the Internet....now what?????

So I was "Internetless" 3 days!!! I called "AT&T" to see if I could get back on.....nope I had to get an upgrade in my Internet service...........so I thought while doing that I might as well get an upgrade with the TV....I have finally turned in my "rabbit ears" for a better TV service........hey, now I can get "American Pickers" I am a happy camper now.

So, just in case you might have missed me, this is the reason I have not been around. No Internet can make a person very anxious and depressed.....that was me. I had to revert to doing things that did not need a computer.......good grief, was like living in the "old days." Well, hopefully things will get better. Now with all this new "high tech stuff" I have to think about getting a new computer....still using an XP and XP is about to run out of time by the end of this year............I see another up-grade coming!!!
You all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise

New Coffee Maker and a Cooking Show

Hello There Everyone. Hope you all are doing great.
Well, finally I found my Keurig Coffee Machine at Kohl's. I was intending on getting a red coffee maker (as it would match my Dutch Oven.) The Keurig came in 4 colors, white, black, silver and red.........well guess what???

I thought we would try Bed, Bath and Beyond, they only had black. The salesman sent me to Kohl's saying he hated to send me there, but because they only had the black mini-coffee makers, he knew Kohl's had many more colors.  Like yellow, purple, blue and turquoise. Now the dilemma was Kohl's had NO red coffee makers....so now what???? Well, my next favorite color was Purple, so I settled on this color, even though it matches NOTHING in my kitchen, I still like it and it makes a great cup of coffee.

Here's a front view.....the interesting thing about this color.....it changes colors!!!!

See? Now it is blue!! Two colors in one.....hahahahaha

JP and I went to a cooking show this past Saturday. The 12th Annual Cooking Extravaganza. Chef Jeff and Chef Mark made some tasty meals.....this is one of them. "Sausage and Lentils with Spinach" I will walk you through it.....it tasted oh, so delicious and is one of those soups that "sticks to your ribs."
We weren't going to go, but then Friday night I decided I wanted to go and I am glad we did, cause we came home with some good recipes to try. My next recipe will be Zucchini Cornbread........the zucchini is sitting in the fridge right now.
Following is the recipe for "Sausage and Lentils with Spinach"

1/4 cup oil, canola or other
1 cup onions, medium diced or omit if you don't like
1 cup celery, medium diced
1 cup carrots, medium diced
In a large kettle, saute' the onions, celery and carrots in the oil until translucent.

1 1/2  pounds kielbasa sausage (I used turkey sausage) sliced
Add the sausage and cook until it begins to render.
Add 2 quarts (8 cups) water
2 Tablespoons soup base (I used chicken base)
1 pound lentils
1 teaspoon thyme leaves, dry
1 teaspoon pepper (I used 1/2 tsp.)

1 pound of Lentils
12 cups spinach, fresh and chopped

Here I am stirring everything together except the spinach,
letting it simmer uncovered for approximately 45 minutes.
Add the chopped spinach and wilt it for 5 minutes.
When finished, the dish should be well-bodied and the lentils tender.  Serve immediately with rustic bread for a healthy and satisfying meal. This is one of those meals that it would be wise to always have lentils on hand........I think I will.

So there you have it....my little tutorial on making this wonderful meal that JP will eat tonight along with bread and fruit.......hope it fills him up.
You all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise

My Friend Kylie and a Few Cards...............



Hi Everyone, how is your day going. We are dreaming of warm summer days on the front porch, peeking out and seeing flowers and butterflies.........yes many beautiful days to look forward to!!! I took this picture of Kylie last year and played with www.picmonkey.com really should go there and play some more.....but seems I find other things to occupy my time.

Here is one of my anchor cards I made a while back. Using my cricut........found the anchor on a site where it was free to take and as I was looking for anchors that was a pretty good deal for me. So I made a bunch of anchors in blue and red and in different sizes and just went about making lots of cards. I will be putting one of these two cards in my Etsy store....been a while since I listed a card on Etsy, must be more diligent at listing if I want to sell a few cards. Either my cards are no longer appealing or the economy is bad cause none have sold for a long time. Oh well, guess I will donate them to hospice so I can just keep making them. Always nice to have a card for every occasion and not have to go out and buy cards. Have you seen the price of a card lately? Yikes!! Enough to choke a chicken!!!

This is my second anchor card in blue. The tape at the top and bottom is "washi tape" which I love working with. I did pick up some 12 X 12 paper like the tape, so will have to sit down and play, see what I come up with.

I have some wolf and elephant cards in the making.......will take pictures of them and add them to this blog in the next few days and then list them on Etsy. Haven't been downstairs to make cards in a few days....was spring cleaning my bedroom last night, whew, do things get dirty and dusty and moved the bed around, TV and sewing machine....makes things look a little different, almost like a new room. I heard a long time ago, that when a person moves their furniture around that they are longing for a vacation.....yep, that sure is true....JP and I have not been on a vacation since 2005, went down to Indiana for a conference.....would be nice to take a road trip again to someplace we have never been. I hear Hawaii calling my name.............someday!!!

Well time to close, have to go get ready and run an errand, you all take care and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh!
Cheers ~ Louise

Just Some Pictures.............

Hi everyone.......thought I would add some pictures to this blog today. My last entry was March 31st.....guess I have not done anything to merit a blog lately, so I will just add these pictures.
The above picture was taken at Sandi's house looking out her front window to the right towards the City bridge. Pretty soon the river will be busy with boats passing by and then it will feel like SPRING has sprung!!! Sandi's craft room faces the river and is always sunny (when the sun is shinning of coarse). I am afraid if I had a craft room facing the river, I would be looking out the window at the river all day and not get anything done, craft wise. Hahahaha.........



This is a picture of a blooming Christmas Cactus????? I thought they bloomed at Christmas time???? This is April now and.....LOOOKIE....they are blooming. Guess they are a bit confused too. JP got these plants from a lady a couple of years a go. They usually were predictable but now they seem to bloom when they want to and not when they are supposed to bloom.



Here we have Kylie. I was playing around with picmonkey.com and this is what I came up with. Should really go back there and do some more playing and make a new banner for my Etsy store, maybe a change in the "window" would help change things up.

Nothing much happening here.....JP and I have date plans to go to an "antique show" on the 13th and possibly the following week I will be going to the "Milwaukee Expo" for the stamping and scrap booking show, if all goes well. There is a lot of things going on this month.....Paper Sale, Lucky Dogz Sale, Cooking Show........but can't go to everything, and everything does cost lots of "Moola Money"!!!! So I will forgo the last 3 and do the first 2, golly and this is just the first 3 Saturdays of April!!!
SPRING HAS SPRUNG!!!! YAY!!!!!

Time to close here.....told ya' not much going on, and that is fine, don't want too much excitement!!! So you all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise



Happy Easter 2013

For Easter 2013 ~ my Walmart special "Hibiscus Plant" for $1.50 (three years ago), decided to make some beautiful blooms!! Isn't this just so lovely and this is on a cloudy day. Imagine it's beauty on a sunny day!! Need to get some job picks and fertilize. I water this plant 2 times a week, usually Wednesday's and Saturdays, watering till the water comes out the bottom of the holes of the planter. The leaves turn yellow a couple times of year. But new ones appear. So she just keeps blooming and blooming......best investment I have ever made for $1.50!!

So Wednesday I went to my friends house to color her hair and see some of things she is making on her cameo. She will be selling some of her creations as soon as she gets her inventory built up. She gave me lots of ideas too.......if I can figure out how to get it on my blog, I will show you what I made last night on my Cricut. MUSTASHES!!!!!
The above picture is the scene out her frontroom window.....beautiful....like a mini-vacation and home all wrapped up into a bundle!!!! I shall take a picture when the snow melts and the grass turns green....it will be very inviting then.
Her husband is having a heart operation this next week....pray for her and her husband Dougie.

Well, time to close here and get some things done around the house, oh and make some mustashes on my Cricut. Have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise

Zzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!

Have a good day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh....Cheers ~ Louise

"Oh Spring.....Where Art Thou? ~ Boating and Baking!!"

Where ARRRRRE YOUUUUUUUU Spring??? Everyone is looking for you, why are you hiding???
The above picture was taken in January, and this is what we expect for January. BUT it is March 23rd and is supposed to be SPRING!!!  My back yard is still full of snow!!! This time last year we were in the 80's! We went from winter to summer in the twinkling of an eye!!
Hopefully we will taste a bit of spring this year, I for one am ready!!!

READY for boat rides and mini vacations!! Yes I am looking forward to this ride.....winter vanishes away.....not to be seen again, for at least 6 months or more!!!! I will enjoy my summer this year and look forward to every day!!!

So I was on Facebook today...my usual place to go after checking emails and such. Found this recipe that I just needed to share today.....have not tried it yet, but will today for sure!!! I will give you the ingredients here, so if you are so inclined, you can try it also and let me know how it worked out for you.
***************
This is Red Lobster's Cheese Biscuit recipe done in a loaf pan.


3 cups flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
... 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
4 ounces cheddar cheese, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1 1/4 cups milk
3/4 cup sour cream
3 Tablespoons of butter, melted
1 egg, lightly beaten

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan with oil. In a bowl, whisk together the first 5 ingredients. Carefully stir in cheese cubes until covered in flour mixture, this will help prevent your cheese sinking to the bottom of your loaf of bread.

In a different bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Fold the wet mixture into the flour and cheese mixture, stir until just combined, do not over stir. Spread the mixture into the loaf pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes and then remove from pan. Allow to cool for one hour before slicing and serving.
*********************

Sounds good, doesn't it, this could be a keeper for sure!!!
Well, time to close this blog for today, need to get some things done. Saturday, wonder what I can get into??? Well, for one, make the above bread!! 
Have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh!
Cheers ~ Louise 

Wordless Wednesday

Okay.......it's time to get the lawn mowers and lawn chairs out!!!! Today is Spring!!!
Have a great day despite all this snow!!
Cheers ~ Louise

New Products to Play With and New Cards

So today the mail man delivered these little treasures to my house. Exciting!!! 3 different purple patterned washi tapes, maybe just in time for Easter. AND....ta da ta!!!! Finally my Martha Stewert balloon punch. Been looking for this punch for a couple of weeks now. Archivers, Hobby Lobby, Micheals did not carry it. Didn't check JoAnns though. But now I have my punch and can make the colored balloons I desire and maybe even sell a packet of balloons in my Etsy store. just as I bought a packet of balloons from another etsy seller. Hopefully what goes around, comes around and someone will buy from me.....If I make the sale look interesting.

This is a sample of a card made with washi tape and some of the colors I have. This was a very fun card to make and has much potential to be most any card you desire it to be. I cut each end for the tapes to look like banners. I will be putting this card in my Etsy store sometime next week. It will be priced for $3.00 + postage, making it $5.00. still cheaper then a store bought card and it is homemade!!!

Here is one of my "anchor cards" this can be for a the sailor in your life, the retired sailor, the boat man, pontoon man, anyone having to do with water and boats!!!
I have a cricut machine (thanks to Sandi, who gave me one). Finally figuring out how to use it, took me long enough!!! Anyways I was looking for an anchor, looked all over the internet and also on SVG.cuts.com  No, no anchors. Finally found a site where they sold svg die cuts for $4 and can be downloaded to your computer......I found this anchor and it was FREE....my kind of shopping. Sooooo, I had it downloaded, now the project was to find it and transfer it to my Sure Cuts A Lot 2 program. Well, I managed to do it and here is the result of my efforts. Not a bad looking card, even if I have to say so myself.....LOL!!!

The above card, and this one are cut from the same card stock. I used the anchor in the above card and the cut-out anchor in this card.  Same anchors, two different looks.

I have decided to use a new background for my cards.....finally took down my little Christmas tree, but kept a string of lights....(I enjoy looking at the lights), can you see the little bunny peeking around the card??? Sort of a Christmas/Easter effect, but it makes for a nice place to take pictures of my cards.

Well time to close for today.........have some things to get done. Work is never done, there is always something to do. You all have a great weekend and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise

Ode to my Little Coffee Maker - Part 2

So here is a little snap-shot of my Melitta Coffee maker. I bought it back in 1972 or so. Used it for quite awhile, then put it away, often thinking I should sell it in one of my garage sales. It actually did make it in a sale but there were no takers...(thank goodness for that...huh??)
So one day I brought it up from the basement and started using it after my regular coffee maker died and have used it ever since. That has been a couple of years now....maybe longer. I have found that I am better off with 1 or 2 cups of coffee a day, rather then a whole pot.

Years ago I over-dosed on too much coffee, aspirin and diet pills, a bleeding ulcer developed and I was rushed to the hospital, bleeding from both ends in 1981. Actually, I did not learn my lesson the first time and again drank too much coffee and aspirin minus the diet pills. This episode was in 1986 and resulted with an operation and cutting the nerves in my stomach and my spleen taken out. Guess I almost died from that one but did recover. To this day, I do watch the caffeine intake. For many years I did not touch coffee and drank only tea. I started drinking coffee again about 2001 when I started working for someone who loved coffee. One of my many jobs was to make coffee and every morning would give him a cup. I had to learn how to make that PERFECT cup of coffee. Well, that boss left and I inherited a "new boss" who was also a coffee drinker, so by then I was close to being a "professional coffee maker." Also, another one of the bosses in the office liked his coffee too....but much stronger. I was making his coffee also!! So you see, I was making LOTS of coffee and I think that is where my down-fall came, cause that coffee would smell so good, I started drinking it again.

So here I sit.....my little coffee maker has bit the dust so to speak. I don't want to go with a 10 or 12 cup coffee maker because the temptation would be there to drink it allllllllllllllll and that would be dangerous for this girl. So, I shall continue my quest to look for a new one-cup coffee maker. Until then, I shall use T-filter sacs and dunk them in hot water.....makes for a good cup and I can keep it down to 2 cups a day. Oh, I still drink tea, lots of water and at the moment coconut milk and vegie and fruit smoothies. Not a soda drinker, too much sugar in that substance. 

The above picture is one of JP's meals that I make him for his late night dinner. Stuffed pork chops and roasted vegies. Cabbage, red potatoes, onions and kale. There's a dab of butter on top with some Mediterranean seasoning. Parsley embellishes the dish. He also likes his fruit with a dollop of yogurt on top. I think he had soup with this lovely meal also.

Tonight's menu is fish, broccoli and potatoes, fruit with yogurt and toast. He eats pretty good, but we do have to watch that his "gout" does not flare up and erupt cause that can last 4-6 weeks at a time. So we keep things simple with chicken, fish, chicken and fish and pork, chicken and fish, chicken and fish, beef and back to chicken and fish. With LOTS of vegies and fruit. Oh and he likes a fruit smoothie every day for lunch along with his big lunches.

Smoothie of the day:
1 apple
2-3 florets of broccoli
1/2 banana
1/2 cup coconut milk
Mix together and enjoy!!!

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

What........No Coffee????

AND.........my little personal one cup coffee maker BROKE!!!!!!
AND..........there are NO words to express how I feel!!!
My days just have not been good since you died!!
OH my little coffee maker I will miss you!!!
Millita Personal One-cup Coffee Maker, is there no way I can revive you???? Your year of make was in the 1970's, what must I do to find another just like you?????
I am sooooooo sad..........(sigh)
What will I do, do, do!!!
What will I replace you with????
How will I find that perfect little cup of coffee every morning???
OH....please do not leave me.....(sigh)

Sorry......no cheers here ~ Louise

More Birthday Cards

Hi everyone!!! How's your day going? It is a beautiful, bright, sunny and a springy looking day here in Wisconsin today. I need to take a walk around the block and get some fresh air, sometime today. 

Adding some more cards to my Etsy store in the next week or so. Here are a few more. #8. As you can see, it's a little girl with her balloons. I really need to get a little boy also....one of these days. Most likely it will be a "Magnolia" boy stamp, just have to find him.

Here you have the Number 10 card. Number 9 is in a previous blog down a ways a bit. You can read about it there. For now, I just have these two cards posted for now. I did have another card up but realized that too was in a previous blog. So I deleted them and inadvertently deleted my "furnace story" and Mug Cake Recipe.

Bummers! For some reason this computer is acting up too, so honestly, I am thinking of closing this blog for now. These things take much to long time to write and then when I lose half of what I wrote, makes for a discouraging day. So, I think I will just title this blog.........."More Birthday Cards" The mug cake and furnace story will come at a later date.........that's good though, you and I have something to look forward to and when my mind is mush and I don't know what to write....I will actually have two things on the back burner ready to write about.

So listen, you all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
 (so actually I have 3 things to write about, if memory serves me correctly, I was going to write what the previous scripture meant....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



More Cards Made and in the Making......

Well, here are some more cards for you to take a peek at. The above #4 card is one I sent to the great nephew (or is it grand nephew) for his 4th birthday. Making this card is what got me started into making these # cards for children. You can seen how my cards have "evolved" from this one with more balloons. Which the above card could have used more of. 

Good news.....I just got an order last night for a card........the person having a birthday is going to be 105 years old!!! So guess what....I am making a card with "105" and a "model T Ford" with lots of balloons to fill the card up!! The inside will say "God loves you".

I have also made a card for someone in "blog-land" that I am a regular visitor to who is having her 45th birthday this month. So, guess what again....I made a "#45" birthday card! Been having fun with these cards, hope I don't get tired of doing them, but then again, I doubt it, 'cause every card is different, so how can I get bored with that????

When making cards, I usually make 10-12 cards the same then switch to something different....boredom sets in and I need a change. So making the "# cards" has been fun because no two are alike. That's good for me, keeps me interested.



Here is #7 with my little girl. I need to find a little boy also....these "magnolia" stamps are a little expensive with shipping and handling, costing close to $17.....so it may be awhile before I get my hands on that stamp.

The above Birthday card is for both man and woman adult cards. I used that new "washi tape" which is fun to use and can have many creative ideas. With this card I taped and cut the bottoms to look like banners and stamped the Happy Birthday. Then ran the card through my cuttlebug the placed "candy circles" on the card. Fun, fun, fun.

Went to the Hospice group yesterday and had a little fun. Donated 52 various cards, Birthday, Easter, Thinking of You and Mother's day cards. We made 100 Mother's Day gifts...Hersey candy wrapped in cardstock and a ribbon...they were real cute and simple.

After the Hospice meeting, visited Archievers and Hobby Lobby and found some more washi tape at "buy 2 and get 3rd tape free" so I bought 4 tapes and got 2 free!!! So now I have enough tape to last awhile and to make many lovely cards for Hospice. Found a "model T Ford" stamp that will look cute on the "105" card also.

Time to close this blog, as I can spend tooooo much time on this and not get much done around the house. Still have to finish my taxes and get them ready for the due date on Monday the 4th. 
Dinner is already made, so all I have to do is heat that up...."crock pot" pork and sourkraut and roasted vegies. AND make the "105" number and Birthday Card for the party tomorrow. Not sure we are going as yet....if there is food, oh yesssss, by all means!!!!

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