No matter what …. I always had dishes to be done

During the highest moments in my life, and the lowest, it seems I always had dishes and, let me add, laundry to do.  No matter if I’d just given birth or thought the world was going to end, all I had to do was look over my shoulder to remember, that the dishes needed doing.  Oh Yea!  In my finer moments of domestic bliss I’d get them done in the most efficient way possible, then off to the next task (most likely laundry) then before I knew it, there was a pile of dishes to do again.

Not even a chickless nest helps.  Plenty of bowls, mugs and stemmed glasses seem to pop up overnight.  Not enough to load a dishwasher mind you but enough to take a good 15 to 20 minutes out of your day.  Problem is I can’t seem to do anything else until they are done.  Even though I know they are never going to be done and if I keep doing the dishes what am I doing really?  The damn dishes.

Birthday Crepes

On our birthdays my Mom would always make us what she called German Pancakes.  In actuality they were French Crepes.  My two brothers and I would sit around the stove as she cooked each crepe, spread it with butter, sprinkled it with sugar, rolled it and cut it into thirds, one for each of us.  Occasionally, when feeling nostalgic I grab the 'ol Betty Crocker cook book, my favorite crepe recipe, and make up a batch.  Of course you can fill them with sweet or savory fillings such as blueberries and yogurt or Creamed Tuna with cheese but I still love them simply, with butter and sugar.

When I visited Paris, of course, I simply had to try them and I must admit.  Mom's are just as good.  I cook any left over batter, the crepes store quite well in a baggie for a couple weeks.

Pretzel Baking

Yesterday's snowy day with the wood stove burning was conducive to baking and writing. I had so much fun baking these Fleischmann's Homemade Pretzels in between writing assignments. I bought this mix a month or so ago.  The instructions on the back are easy and clear.  Mix the dough, cover it, let rise.  I sat it next to the wood stove.  Divide into equal pieces and roll each piece 18" long before forming into a Pretzel.   I let them rest and rise a bit before their 15 second soda bath.

Then into the hot 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes

Enjoyed with a bit of warmed brie, mustard and of course, a Stella!

Sympathy Cards with Cricket ~ May 2013

Finally after years of not utilizing my Cricket, it came in handy for two sympathy cards and their envelopes.  I loved the calm feeling of these cards.

My #1 Niece get's Married

cause for another gift cert card!

and Aubrey was her name...........

A Not So Very Ordinary Girl or Name

Once upon a time Prince Kenneth stumbled upon a gorgeous and unique girl Aubrey. He marveled in the beauty that radiated from her gorgeous eyes, especially as she created each masterpiece. For you see, Aubrey is an artist. He mind constantly seeking the beauty in every abstract. When she looked at her Prince, he knew.

Hannah's Graduation Gift Card

Thirty years after her Aunt, my niece Hannah graduates from my high school. My class was the first graduating class and we had picked the school colors, mascot, etc. when we were in 9th grade. So it was a joy working with those colors, to create her graduation card. It turned out simple but pretty utilizing the metal numbers and gigaNtic riCrAc. Of course I had to add some dots. The star (our mascot) was originally yellow but with some embossing powder and heat, it was quickly rectified. I really enjoy using the announcement for inspiration. I roughed up the edge of the white Bazzill to expose the blue leatherette paper underneath. I also love it when a card "feels" good. The and mixing the fonts really bought the metal letters to life

Hannah is such a beautiful girl, I can't wait to see where life takes her.

'11 Rules

Graduation Time

I love matching the cards to their school colors - the inspiration on the "2010" was the book cover on Eat, Pray, Love

Cards for two different family members who were recently hospitalized. It seems like so many

Those flowers are by Mulberry

09 Christmas card

My only regret is that I didn't get them out earlier :( - ah well - it's the thought that counts right? Posh was the star of the card this year. I hoped to use a pic from our trip to Yellowstone but alas they weren't so good....

anyhow....I hope everyone had a great Christmas! BTW - the first person to sign my blog and say "Merry Christmas" back to me - even if it's in July - I'll send you a gift.

Sewing is so much fun now that I have a decent sewing machine. I really enjoyed adding the tulle to my Christmas cards.

Male B-day Card

A Quick Card for Bert - it was so cute to see this big guy fall in love with my card.

Another clipboard

Here's a clipboard I put together for my friend's daughter whose starting her career as a teacher. I love the colors and thought it turned out cute.

Kristy's Graduation Gift Certificate

I love making graduation cards. It's such a wonderful opportunity to congratulate our children on 18 years of hard work and accomplishment, not to mention wish them well on their journey. Unfortunately I don't know my best friend from high school's daughter very well, but I loved making her card. I always try to use their school colors.

Sewing on cards with my new Singer.

What a blast I had sewing on these cards with my new lil Singer that I bought at Costco. I'm sure I'll have many sewing adventures from here on out.

Green Dream

This just won't film properly. The greens really did match. I used my new MS border punch. Matching it up isn't easy - especially with my eye sight.

A Note from cards - Love making these....

These 4 x 6 cards are so much fun to make for friends to add to a birthday gift or just by themselves.

Birthday Folio

Thanks to Alicia for the Special Date Folio Folder instructions. I've been wanting to make one of these forever. Now, I shouldn't miss anyone's birthday.

50th Birthday Card for Book Club Buddy

This card turned out so fun! As usual, I'm going nutty over the polkas again. I fell in love with this paper with the fuzzy flock of polkas (la-di-dot by doodlebug design, inc.) until I made the card, opened it up and realized that they WRITE ON THE BACK OF THEIR PAPER. UGH! It was a rookie mistake not checking it first. It did present me with the opportunity of using the black on the inside to cover the writing. I wish my pic showed the sparkle of the rhinestone swirls (Say it in Crystals - Prima Marketing). I love how the paper accepted the stamp, where it hit the polkas - it went opaque - SUPER COOL!

I also love this quote by Jane Austen ~ One can never have to large a party ~ who knew she was such a party animal?

And the winner IS!

The snowflake sparkle! The paper is Creative Imaginations. I had to order more from the company and other than taking 3 days when I paid for 2 days - they were great to work with. The paper is hard to glue and takes a lot with plenty of pressure using my brayer. Great work out making 40 cards! My printer wouldn't print on it either so transperancy to the rescue. We did an RSVP card in the next shade of green Bazzill Swiss Dot paper. It was a simple postcard that slipped inside the ribbon on the inside of the card. But, of course, forgot to take a pic of it before it went out the door - big no no - ugh! Anyhow, I love how the card turned out. Perfect for a wintery wedding in Tahoe.