A Few Things On Next Week's Agenda

Hi there everyone. Hope you are having a good evening and your week-end will be a fun one. Can you believe March is just around the corner....whew time does fly by. I think I'm going through "Winter Fatigue" (that would be "just getting tired of the winter blahs") although JP said it was just "Cabin Fever" either way, I am looking forward to Spring and walking outside and getting some fresh air. Lately it has been way too cold and snowy for me or Kylie. I have noticed it is getting lighter and lighter at 5:00....yay...pretty soon we can start walking again.

I was looking at Pinterest and saw some things I would like to try...that's always a fun thing for me to do. Don't these sandwiches look really good below....yum. I think the recipe said a slice of toast, with mayo, tomatoes and avocado with melted cheese....mmm. Sounds good to me.

Here are two drinks that I might try....they sound so refreshing don't they? If they worked and did the things said....it could be worth it. I do have some frozen lemon and mint ice cubes in the freezer. Need to get some ginger....maybe I could use a tsp of ginger might work. Looks like the drink below could be made tomorrow for breakfast. I have all the ingredients. Maybe I could turn it into a smoothie???

These two beautiful cards....I just love. I am going to a Stampin' Up Camp on Sunday. So I know for sure, one of my purchases will be this lovely butterfly. So pretty. Oh, there are a few stamps I will be buying also. Maybe the set on these two cards.

I saw this cake today....mmmm....it sounded delish. The cake is baked in a cast iron pan...now that is interesting to me. I printed the recipe out...so if it works I will surely put it on my blog. I think it is diabetes worthy...I will just cut down on the sugar, like from a cup to 1/2 cup. If I can handle it and not get tempted....and maybe two bites at a time, leaving the rest for JP.

Doesn't this little dish look yummy.....grilled tomatoes on a bed of spinach, a poached egg and grilled portobella mushroom....nice breakfast, lunch or dinner right????

So there you have it....some cards, drinks, desserts and food I plan on making this next week. As for soups.....I have a recipe for Chinese Meatball soup and Basil Tomato Soup and Turkey Meatballs.....sound good??? A few other recipes I need to try...Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken and Eggs baked in Portobello Mushrooms. I may also try a recipe that I have not made in a very long time, Tuna Fish Casserole. JP will be eating well this next week, don't 'cha think???

Time to close and go do some wash and ride the bike. I hope you liked my plans for this next week.....maybe this will help me get past the "Winter Fatigue" phase.

Have a good night and keep looking up. Cheers ~ Louise

Cookies~~Cookies and Taxes

Hi there everyone. Hahahaha funny little pug dog, he's not exactly what you were expecting for tech support....right? Thought we could all use a little bit of humor on Monday's. Yep, even though it is still Christmas Cookies. Tech support is on the way!!

Not much going on here. Worked on income taxes Saturday. Got the bulk of it done, now I just have to figure out medical expenses and medicine, then I am done. Whew, what a job!!! Would be nice if we got a refund...then I could pay a few bills........it's a never ending circle of paying bills. Thank God for COOKIES!!!!

We got some good news the other day. The "Rebuilding Together" people that fixed our roof in October will be coming again to fix the kitchen ceiling and put a new fan in. I suspect there was a lot of water damage so they feel a new fan needs to be added. Fine with me. I suspect they will let me know how much work is ahead of me as to what I must move out of the kitchen, dishes, food etc. They will be also putting in banisters down the basement and a few other small details....I think the porch might be painted too. We will see. This will all take place in May, so I have much to look forward to.

Well, I guess I must take down my Valentine Tree....guess it is time. It's been fun....I will miss the pretty lights. I suppose I could leave the tree up till St. Patrick's Day.....hummm....we'll see. I am not sure Mr. Elf wants to take that long nap till Christmas as yet.

One more week of February and we are entering March...my goodness these days are flying by. Maybe March will come in like a lion and go out like a lamb and could it be "spring is right around the corner" YES...yes....yessssss!

 

Well time to close this blog for the night. Need to get downstairs and get some cards made for Hospice. The next meeting is March 6th....so I have some work a head of me. But, it is fun and relaxing work.

Don't forget to leave a comment on my blogs...every comment is worth a chance to win a St. Patrick's Day card from me. Even if you just stop by and say "Hi Louise" that's good enough for your name to be dropped in the bowl. March 10th will be the day to pick 4 names.

So have great night and good week, keep looking up.

Cheers ~ Louise

Made Some New Cards Today

Hi there everyone. Well, today I went to my friends house to make these beautiful cards. BURRRR it was cold outside...traveling to her house was a little chilly, but once there, things warmed up.

We made this cute card that looked like a miniature "dressing screen" not sure if that's the real name.....but I sure wouldn't mind dressing behind this screen...ummmm...as long as there was not a window behind the screen...lol!

The card is a 4 paneled card, the top and bottom of the card was punched with two different punches. I screwed up on the first card....so teacher helped me with the second card. Then each panel was stamped with a lovely flowered design then colored with copic markers. Not sure who I will give this card to....maybe keep it and just enjoy it for awhile.

In this picture, the same card folded up and tied with a lovely purple ribbon, which fits perfectly in an envelope.

This was a really neat card to make. I accidentally sprinkled the card with too much water. I wanted to start over but the ladies said it looked like the Northern Lights...so, I continued on with making the card. First the card was dabbed with distress ink around the edges of the card, the pink added in the center. Water was sprinkled (not blotched).....then let dry. Stamped with a scenery stamp and bow with embossed greeting. I really like the effect, I might try this technique with red and orange ink...maybe it will look like a fiery sunset. 

This next card was fun....again I messed up on the bird....added too much brown....Betty gave me a new bird to color. I just don't know what my problem was today.....one of those days I guess. The bird and pine cones were embossed then colored with copic markers.

Now this was an interesting card to make. It is actually a paper napkin. I never would have thought to use a napkin. It was a 3 ply napkin, so we had to peel the napkin down to this layer. (Again, I had a hard time peeling the layers...geez!!!) Then, after struggling to get to this layer, finally glued it to card stock. Then it was layered on a decorative die cut....a gem added and a birthday wish at the top.

I think I might try making some more napkin cards....will keep my eye opened for some interesting napkins.

Well, again, I am having another card give away of a St. Patrick's Day card. I am thinking to give away the header card at the top. So, all you need do is leave a comment on each of my posts till March 10th. I will pick a 4 names and mail the winners a card in time for St Patrick's Day. Wish you all could be winners....but I can always have another card give away till you all receive a card.

Have a great day and keep looking up. Cheers ~ Louise

Before and After Steak and St. Patrick Cards

Hi there everyone....this will be a short one....just wanted to show you the "before" and "after" pictures of that wonderful and de-lish-ous heart shaped rib-eye steak.

So here is a picture of the steak in it's "before" state, fresh out of the package from the butcher....I salted and peppered it and poured some steak sauce on top, letting it sit in the frig for a few hours.

A picture of the steak "After" it was pan fried in coconut oil with some onions and mushrooms.....oh my was this ever a good piece of meat....not sure if it was the coconut oil that did the trick, but it sure did smell good.

Here you see the whole meal....salad, mashed potatoes, garlic bread and left-over cod fish from the night before. There was steak left over for Sunday's meal of Steak and eggs and English muffins. Oh Yum!!!!

I will be doing another Card Give Away....this time a St. Patrick's Day Card. Starting today....all you need do is leave a comment, even if it is just to say "Hi". I will put your name on the list and every time you comment, is a chance to win one of my cards. On March 10th I will pick 4 names and then send those 4 a card.

I so totally enjoyed the Valentine give away....I wanted to do another one. Well, time to close for the night...have a good evening and keep looking up....warm days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

Happy Valentine's Day - Steak and Cards

Hi everyone. Hope you had a wonderful, fun, filled day and your special someone made it even more special in some unusual way. In the above picture are two cards I received in the mail. The one on the right is from Brenda in Indiana, so simple, but yet so elegant. The card on the left is from Shirley, a card maker here in Appleton. We have been sending each other cards for over 7 years. It's always fun to see what she makes....I think she is truly an artist. She recycled this card as it was a store bought card and she turned it into a new handmade card.

 I just got home from Jacobs Meat Market in Appleton. JP gave me some money to buy whatever I wanted...so I chose this heart shaped Rib-eye steak.....my, my was it good!! As you can see, Kylie took a liking to it and if it had been a bit closer, she might have taken a bite out of it.

I salted and peppered it and put a little steak sauce on it and let it sit in the frig for a couple of hours. When it came time to cook it, I sauteed some mushrooms and onions in coconut oil. (no, I could not taste the coconut). Took the mushrooms and onions out of the pan and dropped the steak in. Cooking till the center was 100 degrees. Dished the steak and poured the mushrooms and onions on top. OH MY WAS THAT STEAK DE-LISH-OUS!!!! I took a picture of our Valentine's dinner all cooked up, mashed potatoes, salad, garlic bread and left over fish....that will be the next post. We still have enough steak left for dinner tomorrow.

Here is another picture of Kylie, enjoying the smells of Valentine's Day.....if she could have, she would have. Yes, she did have some steak too for her dinner....cooked of course, not raw.

I just had to take a couple of these pictures of Kylie.....she is so darned cute with her antics. I think it sure would be a very quiet and boring home if Kylie did not live here.

Love is in the Air....

Hi everyone.....just a short little post for tonight. No, I did not buy bacon for our breakfast tomorrow....sure does sound good though.

I think I will go to the butcher tomorrow and buy a rib-eye steak shaped in a heart....so JP and I will celebrate Valentines....stuffing our mouths with a good piece of meat. Tonight for dinner, he is having fish and mashed potatoes and "Italian Mystery Soup" I shall have to write down the recipe and pass it along to you my readers. But, first I must see how JP likes the soup....if it passes the grade....I will post it. Perhaps I need to write the recipe down before I forget.

I bought JP a BIG can of beans for Valentines....it's what he wanted, maybe I will wrap the can up and tape a valentine card to it and have it sitting on the table tonight for him to open. Such a nice gift...hahahahaha!!!!

Well, time to close, have to go get my new printer set up so I can make some labels tonight. Have a good evening. Oh and thank you Brenda for the lovely Valentine's Card. I shall post it here tomorrow. Cheers ~ Louise

And the Winners of This Lovely Card are.....

Hi there everyone...hope you are having a good day. So we got home from church today, and the first thing I did was pick the 4 names out of the bowl. And....these are the winners of this lovely Victorian Valentine card.

1 - Patricia - www.patricia-heythereitsme.blogspot.com
2 - Tina - www.kittykatkards.blogspot.com
3 - Brenda - www.inkspiredtostamp.blogspot.com
4 - Biz - www.mybizzykitchen.com

Hope you will visit their blogs also.....I visit them daily, always looking forward to what they have posted and getting some new idea, whether it be card making, food making, exercise or just a little encouragement in daily life.

Tina recently posted a great recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake....oh my was that DE-LISH-OUS!!!!! Oh and she makes some really neat cards and sells on Etsy too.
Biz posts wonderful ideas about food, dieting and exercise...she is a daily visit....and I must have something to eat before I read her blog because I drool over the food she makes!! She has entered a couple of Recipe Contests and is a contender to win 10k for a pizza she made. Can hardly wait to see if she wins!!
Brenda always has great ideas about making cards. She lives life day by day tackling the problems she deals with living with a husband who has Alzheimer's.
Patricia took a wonderful cruise to Alaska....it was so refreshing, felt like I had gone there too even if it was via blogland. She posts lots of food too, along with everyday life.

So there you have it, the winners. I will get the cards addressed tonight and sent in the mail tomorrow. Hopefully you will see your card by Valentines Day and the Pony Express moves swiftly through the bad weather that is coming soon.

Have a great night and keep looking up. Cheers ~ Louise

My Valentine Tree....

Hi there everyone. Hope you had a nice Saturday....it was lovely outside today....I should have taken a walk with Kylie, but I did not. Maybe tomorrow.

Today I am posting my Valentine's Tree. Lots of hearts, and look there's that red elf....he must have hid among the branches when I was taking the Christmas stuff down, I think he hoped I would miss him.....well, I really didn't only reason he stayed in the tree was cause he is RED and perfect for Valentine's Day.

I suspect the tree will come down after Valentines.....I don't dare leave it up for St. Patrick's Day. I love the lights....and will miss them.

Tomorrow I shall be picking 4 names. If you have commented on any of my blogs for past few weeks, you became eligible. Each comment was worth a chance to win and Valentine Card from me. I can hardly wait to pick the names. I will let you know if  you won by an email and if I need your address, I will let you know. I do have a few addresses......so we shall see.

Nothing too much happened today....just worked on Income tax and getting that all organized. Still have to go over the medical stuff and pull all of the 2014 bills out of the files.

Making this a short and sweet post, have a good rest of the day and keep looking up. Cheers ~ Louise

There is Still Time.....

Hi there everyone. Well....it's Friday, where did this week go to??? So fast, the days are going. We are so busy wishing our lives away, always looking forward to the next season, the next day off, the next vacation, the next holiday, the next meal, the next football season, the next I-phone, the next, the next, etc. It's no wonder the days and weeks fly by so fast.

There is still time to leave a comment on my blog to get your name added to the bowl to receive this lovely vintage looking Valentine Card....just for you!!! Yes, Sunday, February 8th I will pick 4 names from the bowl, every comment left is a chance to win. So if you have left 6 comments, that is 6 chances to win....2 comments, two chances. I will contact those that won on Sunday night. If I have your address, then great, if not I will need your address to send this card. On the 9th I will post the winners who won. Who knows, if all works out.....I may just do this for St. Patrick's Day also.


Been busy making St. Patrick cards....and getting ready for Hospice on March 6th. Need to have put together about 75 cards, St. Patrick, Easter, Thinking of you and Thanks You's.  What's really been fun is that I can still use my heart punch to make the shamrocks....such fun, each shamrock requires 3 hearts and the stem is punched out with the heart punch also. I will show you the St. Patrick cards later ,as that will be for another post in a week or so.

Not much going on at the moment. Started the income tax dance....that always takes me awhile to get motivated to do....tend to procrastinate on it, I have to have my part done by March 10th and then take the paper work to the accountant to finish. No.....I cannot do my own....it's so hard to understand the language on the tax forms, I would mess it all up. Better to have someone who knows what they are doing.

Well, time to close here, need to go to bed. It's 2:05am. So good night and I hope Friday, February 6th is a good one for you all. Keep looking up!!!  Cheers ~ Louise

Six More Weeks.....Enough Said!!!!

I find it hilarious that New York City's Groundhog saw his shadow and the Mayor said "Spring is Coming"!!! (So what does that mean...he saw his shadow or he did not see his shadow???) Philadelphia's Groundhog said 6 more weeks....I think these groundhogs need to get their stories straight...don't you???? I think spring will come no matter what, for some, it just might be earlier, rather then later for others. As for the groundhogs, we shall see which one is right. It's sort of like the weatherman...no two can predict the same weather...hahahaha!!

So how are things by you? As my mother always said, "everything is calm and quiet here"......well, for the moment it is quiet here. We had to get our furnace fixed yesterday. Sunday, late night, I was working on making some cards and noticed water leaking around the furnace, then I noticed the carpet was wet.....yikes where is this water coming from???? I never knew the furnace had water running through it...but it does. Here I thought it was the "april-air" but that was never connected. Goes to show how much I know about furnaces. The repairman said, good thing I saw the problem...it could have gotten worse. I am always downstairs, so I could not help but notice....so now I wait for the bill.

Don't forget to comment today or tomorrow....just a "Hi" is good enough to qualify you for a Valentine card from me.  Each time you comment is another chance for your name to enter into the bowl, on February 8th, I will pick 4 names to receive a Valentine card from me. Hopefully it will get to you in time as I hear the "pony express" is running pretty slow these days what with weather conditions around the country. I sent a letter to a friend on 1/27 and she just received it yesterday....it was headed towards the east coast, guess it ran into bad weather along the way.

Finally decorated my "Valentine Tree" yesterday.....oh so sweet. I will take a picture of it for you, to get you in the mood for romance!!! Most likely I will buy myself some flowers as the husband is not a romantic person. Maybe we will go out for dinner, just for a change.

Well, time to close, have to go food shopping and pickup meds for JP. Have a good day and keep looking up...stay warm and cozy tonight....it's suppose to snow here again, maybe by you sunshine. Cheers ~ Louise

The Last Day of January......

Hi there everyone. Hope your Saturday is going well for you. This was a quiet day, nothing much going today. I am making some Mexican Meatball Soup in the crockpot. It should be ready around 8pm or so. I keep taste-testing, I am afraid by the time 8pm rolls around I will be full of meatballs and there won't be any for JP. Uh-oh!!!!!

Isn't this little poster so true???? When I look at my puppy dog I always think how sweet she is, and if she could talk, boy would she tell me a thing or two. Such unconditional love.....I believe....it's the same kind of love that God has for each and every one of us....when men fail all around us.....we still have God that loves us no matter what!!!!!....how great is that?????

Commercial Time.......So you have one more week to leave a comment on my blog, (the last one, this one or the next couple of blogs.) Even if you just say "Hi" that would be sufficient enough to be eligible for a Valentine Card from me. February 8th I will pick 4 names and those winners will receive a card for Valentine's Day. Enter as many times as you want leaving a comment each time. I will put your name in the hat....the more comments, the more chances to win.

Cannot believe this is the last day of January...my how the time flies. I had two sales for my cards (18 cards in all) in January, one on Etsy and the other from a friend....here's hoping February will be good to me too.

One thing I have to work on this month is the income tax....uge I hate that job, getting everything together for the accountant, cleaning out my filing cabinet of 2014 stuff,  answering the questions, so much work....but then I have to remember, maybe there will be a refund too....and that always comes in handy, helping to pay bills.

Still working on doing smoothies everyday, watching my weight and blood sugar numbers. Didn't do very good at losing any poundage in January....maybe February will be better.

Well, time to close, hope the rest of your day is good, keep warm and keep looking up.
Cheers ~ Louise

Just One of Those Days

Hi there everyone. Hope you had a wonderful Wednesday.

Yeah...it's one of those days, and I know I should post something on my blog...but just can't think of anything interesting to post.

I DID have an Etsy sale the other day and that is always exciting. I love that little rush that comes when I see...."Etsy Transaction" in my emails. Got the package put together and in the mail yesterday.

Today I re-invested the money from the card sale into more supplies to make some really neat cards. A few more die-cuts from Memory Box. I shall be looking forward to getting the die cuts in the mail within the next few days.

I'm still looking for a printer for the computer downstairs. I know what I want now, it's just a matter of waiting to see if the printer goes on sale any time soon.

Neat words above, aren't they?  Sometimes I find myself looking in the past....and so very true, I am bummed out. Wouldn't it be nice to live at peace ALL the time??? Guess that is something to work on.

Don't forget to leave a comment, a "Hi how are you" is just fine. Every comment is important and will be added to the bowl. On February 8th I will pick 4 names and the winners will receive a Valentine's Card from me. It's not much, but I think it is always fun to receive a card in the mail and not just at Christmas time.

Well time to close this blog, have to go downstairs and make some cards and ride my bike for a couple of miles. Soon JP will be home from work...chicken curry soup tonight, gosh it smells good.

Have a great evening and keep looking up!!! Cheers ~ Louise

Some Cards I Plan on Making

Hi there everyone. Are you enjoying your Sunday evening??? It's Downton Abby night at 8pm, so wherever I am with this blog....I shall then go and watch it....I'm a fan. The blog can wait.

Valentine's Day Card Give Away. Don't forget to leave a comment at the end of this post...even if it is just to say "Hi...how are ya". For every comment you leave, your name will be added to the bowl of names. On February 8th I will pick 4 names. If I don't have your address, I'll email you for it if you are one of the winners. I'll then  send you the Valentine Card that is in my header. (Maybe not that one, but one like it.)

Thought I would post some cards I am planning on making. Note: these cards are not what I have made...but are cards that I have seen on Pinterest and copied to my files for future use. All these cards are made with the Stampin' Up Stamps called "Works of Art" I think this is the most versatile stamp set I have ever seen. I love something that has lots of uses, it tickles my creativity.

These two cards will be good for Memorial Day, 4th of July and Veteran's Day....will be fun to make.

Both of these cards, using the same set, two different ideas in making sail boats.

Most of you have seen this card...I made it for Christmas this year....Mr. Snowman was lots of fun to make.

Here is another card for Memorial Day, 4th of July and Veteran's Day. So many ideas, aren't there???

This was a fun card....Made this one as a Valentines Card and added them to my Hospice box...very fun to make.

Last but not least, the lovely butterfly, I shall try this one real soon. Maybe it will feel like Spring sooner.

Well there you have it....just a few cards on my agenda to make. You all have a great rest of the evening and keep looking up. Have a great week and I hope you get all that you planned to do...done. Cheers ~ Louise

Scrumptious Beef Roast and the Card Order Finished

Hi there everyone. Hope you are having a good evening. Well, I just got done watching "Master Chef Junior" My goodness, those kids can sure cook!! They must have some awesome mothers who encourage them. One of the kids, Andrew, cooks for his family. My goodness, my mother never let me in the kitchen to cook....only to do her dishes!!! Maybe that is why I hate doing dishes today, if only someone would do MY dishes!!! 

When my mother finally did let me cook, I always had to peel the potatoes and boil them....."KP Duty"....well, I did watch her cook a lot. Liking to cook did not come into play till after I got married. Gosh, I don't remember cooking a lot before then. I must have gone out to eat a lot, fast food was my diet, hamburgers, french fries and pizza's, that maybe why I deal with diabetes now. Eating all the wrong things....too much sugar and too much salt and fats. Oh well, now I try to eat right and trying to control blood sugar and A1c numbers...which can be a challenge everyday.

So today I wanted to post this scrumptious looking roast beef I made.....this being my first roast last week using Biz's marinade,  my second roast was from Festival, a "beef burgundy spoon roast" which had already been marinated. This is a really easy way to do your roast. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees, 5 minutes per pound, (if the roast is 4 lbs. = 20 minutes) then turn the oven off and leave in the oven for 1 hour without peeking. Your roast will turn out perfect like this. You can find the recipe here , it's a very good recipe and I think will be my "go to" for all my roasts. I can then slice the beef for sandwiches during the week for JP's lunches.

I received a comment in my previous post. Angela wanted to see the card order I made for my friend. In the above picture are the cards I made. I already gave her 2 Birthday Cards....it was a nice order and I am hoping to buy a cheap printer at Walmart with the $$. The computer downstairs has a label program, but not a printer. My computer upstairs has a printer but not a label program. Here's hoping this all works out, "we'll see", said the blind mouse.

Here is a set of cards that I will be adding to my Etsy store in the next few days. $9.00 + postage. I used the Stamping Up's "work of art" stamps. I saw the idea on the Internet and liked the idea....so here is my rendition of that card. I like cards that can be used for multiple seasons and reasons. As you can see, the order to my friend also includes one of these cards in the set.

Well, the Presidents speech is done.....sounded like a Utopia type world he was talking about...."we'll see", said the blind mouse!!!!!

Have a good rest of the night and keep looking up!!
Cheers ~ Louise

Versitile Waffle Iron and a Card Order

Hi there everyone....sorry for the lapse in time on my blog....things have been slow around here. Guess there are no excuses. Been doing some different cooking lately. Not sure where I heard about this, but went straight to "You tube" to see the demo's. Yes, your waffle iron can make lots of things besides just waffles. Eggs, French fries (my idea), biscuits, cinnamon rolls, I saw a hamburger grilled on the waffle iron, quesadilla's, oh my gosh, the ideas are endless I suspect.

The other night, I baked some potatoes. The next day, sliced them and put them in the waffle iron till they were nice and crisp...oh yum. A little bit of butter and sour cream....yes so good. In the pictures below, eggs and bacon, cherry juice and ketchup.

I guess I am repeating a bit, but, in the above picture I broke up some bacon and placed the pieces on the iron. Broke two eggs, scrambled them with cheese and poured onto the waffle iron.

A picture of the finished product. Yep, looks just like a waffle....but it's two eggs, bacon and cheese. I almost did not get a picture, JP had already cut into the eggs....whew almost gone!!!!

In these two pictures are the French fries....I spray both sides of the waffle iron then lay the frozen fries on the grid, cook a little bit to defrost, then press down the lid to smoosh the fries and then leave them in there till they start to crisp.

I do the same with the sliced baked potato. Bought some tator tots from the Schwan's Man yesterday, so they will be my next experiment on my waffle iron.

Today I made cheesy chicken enchiladas....making my own enchilada sauce. MMM they were good...just google "easy enchiladas" and you will get many ideas.

Monday I marinaded a 3lb beef roast. Using Biz's recipe www.mybizzykitchen.com/2013/03/10/best-beef-marinade-ever On Wednesday I took the roast out of the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for an hour to get to room temperature. Biz said, by letting the roast sit on the counter to room temp, the roast will be less tough.

So my next step was to bake the roast. I preheated the oven to 500 degrees (yes, you heard me right) I also stuck the baking potatoes in the oven also. When the oven was hot enough, I stuck the roast in the oven, no lid. Baked the meat and potatoes for 15 minutes. (5 minutes per lb.) then turn the oven off and leave the meat and potatoes in the oven for 1 hour. OH....and not peeking, you will let the heat escape. Again, you can google "Shirley's Perfect Rare Roast" I do believe I will make my roasts this way, for now on.

The roast was done to perfection, 125 degrees in the middle and 140 degrees on the ends and red in the middle. Oh and the potatoes were done also. So yeah, I will do that again.

As you noticed, I mentioned in my title, I have a card order. And it's not through Etsy. Wednesday I got an order for 10 cards from a friend....I was very happy about that...so I am working on those cards plus finishing up the cards I have made for Hospice. The meeting is for this next Friday...it is always fun to meet with the other ladies. We pass around our boxes of cards to the other ladies, so we can see what the other's made. We always meet at the Atlanta Bread Company....so we all usually get a good cup of coffee too.

Well, I hope you are having a good Saturday. For me, it is time to go walk Kylie. Her "stop-pulling harness" is really working. She no longer takes me for a walk and she seems more calmer on her walks. Not really sure why the harness would make that much difference....but it has become a pleasure to walk her.

I hope you leave a comment on my blogs from now on till February 8th. Every name will be put in a pot and I will pick 4 people to receive a Valentine Card from your's truly. Comment as many times as you like that will give you that many chances to win.

Have a great weekend and keep looking up!! Cheers ~ Louise

Valentine Cards and a Card Give-away

Hi there everyone. Hope you are all doing well. Can you believe.....this is my 555th post since I started blogging in 2008....wow, how the time flies when we blog.

Since this is my 555th post, I really had no plans on doing a give away....BUT, on second thought, if you would like to receive a Valentine card from me.....
1) Just leave a comment for the next 4 weeks or 26 days on my blogs (1/14 thru 1/8) and I will put your name in the pot.
2) On Sunday, February 8th I will pick 1 name or 2 or 3
 (maybe even 4.)
3) The winners will be announced in time to receive a Valentine card February 14th.
4) Sounds like fun, I know it is not much, but it is always fun to send a card and receive one.

All these cards that I am posting here will be in my Etsy store, if you are interested in buying any one or ALL of them. The cards above are my "Tic-Tac-Toe" Valentine cards. Very fun to make. They will be selling for $10.00 + postage. Buy 4 cards and receive a 5th card for free. Each card will come with an envelope. The inside of the card is stamped with "Happy ♥ Day"

The above Valentine card is one of my newest cards. Actually made this last night. This may be the card that you will receive from me as the "give away" card. I will be selling this card on Etsy for $3.75 + postage.

Another set of cards, buy 4 cards for $10.00 and receive 1 card for free. Two of the cards are blank inside (little girl and the heart on far right). The two bears says, "My heart belongs to you forever". The blue card says, "Happy Valentines Day" and the pink card with hearts says, "Love".

Not sure yet how I will sell these cards, if they will be a set, or be separate....still thinking on this one. Two cards for $5+postage or Four cards for $10.00+postage.

These cards....I have had for a long time...thought I would sell them on Etsy for a set of cards, as you can see they are "Photo Cards" Cute baby on those cards....huh? I will probably sell the set of 3 cards for $12.00 + postage. Note: the pictures will not be included and the inside of the card is blank.

Well, it is time to go walk Kylie. I bought her a "Stop Pulling harness" cause she takes me on walks rather then I taking her. I tried it yesterday and it seemed to work. I get so worried when I walk Kylie, she pulls so much and I tug her back...I am always afraid I am hurting her. So, we will see how this harness works.

Well, you all have a good night and keep looking up.
Cheers ~ Louise