Taking It Easy

The layout is Rich and I in front of Bridal Veil Falls in California. This was a scrapping challenge on Scrap101. The challenge was to take a black and white photo and alter it and make a layout. I decided to print the photo in black and white and then in color. I cut out Rich and I from the colored photo and pop-dotted it onto the black and white photo.

After spending yesterday baking I'm taking it easy today..........Rich's orders. I was able to put a few goodies in the freezer after my baking session. I made 2 loaves banana bread.........1 for us and 1 for Dad and Mae, Five-Star Brownies...........Rick took these to work for everyone's break this morning, 3 dozen Poppy Seed Muffins, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. Rich had buttered Banana Bread this morning for breakfast and 2 more slices in his lunch.

I did end up with Poppy Seed Muffins and Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars in the freezer. Oh well!!!! Maybe next time I will get more in the freezer.

A few days ago I mentioned I would post a recipe for Corn Cob Jelly. Here it is:

CORN COB JELLY

12 corn cobs.......saved from cutting corn off cob
1 package pectin
4 cups sugar
Several drops of yellow food coloring

Combine cobs with 4 cups water in pan. Boil for 10 minutes. Strain liquid; measure 3 cups. Cool. Combine 3 cups liquid and pectin in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add sugar. Simmer until sugar dissolves. Skim off foam. Stir in coloring. Pour into jars; seal. Process in boiling water bath for 5 minutes. Makes 2 - 3 pints. This jelly tastes like honey!

Here's my Five-Star Brownies recipe:

FIVE-STAR BROWNIES

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1/4 cup shortening, melted
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup chopped nuts, optional

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla until well mixed. Add margarine and shortening. Combine flour, cocoa and salt; stir into egg mixture and mix well. Add nuts if desired. Line a 13x9x2" baking pan with foil and grease the foil; pour batter into pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until brownies test done with a wooden pick. Cool in pan. Turn brownies out of pan onto a cookie sheet; remove foil. Place a wire rack over brownies; turn over and remove cookie sheet. Cut with a star cutter or into bars. Yield: about 3 dozen.

Well, I'm off to rest and finish some Artist Trading Cards. Don't laugh..........I've got my feet up on a shelf on the computer desk. I know...........my idea of resting and Rich's are different.

Autumn

It's so hard to believe that tomorrow is the first day of Autumn. Where did the summer go?????????

The little scarecrow is a paper piecing I did for a swap a couple of years ago. I thought maybe some of my scrapping friends might like to make one to use on Autumn layouts.

I've continued being busy with food preserving. I'm trying to make sauerkraut this year. So far it's looking good. Rich loved sauerkraut while stationed in Germany. He doesn't like the sauerkraut in cans or plastic bags from the store. He says they are too salty. So I found a German recipe for making sauerkraut. The difference is that the German recipe calls for sugar to be added with the salt and water. All the other recipes just call for salt and water. We'll know in a few weeks if it turns out or not.

Off to make out my menu for the next couple weeks and then grocery list for shopping tomorrow. Rich and I like to get early on the Saturdays we grocery shop.............we're talking being at the grocery store by 6am. It is so nice and quiet at that time of the morning. You don't have the people that think going to the grocery store means blocking the whole isle while they tell everyone about their aches and pains. Believe me I've ran into this more than once.........and it really annoys me.

Farewell to the Crocodile Hunter

Bindi's heart-wrenching address.

The emotional climax at the Steve Irwin memorial service was, for most, eight-year-old Bindi Irwin's speech about her father.

Without a tremour in her voice and even managing a smile, the Crocodile Hunter's daughter read from a sheet of paper, tracing the words with a finger.

Bindi - who shared a special bond with the Crocodile Hunter and was increasingly involved in his work - was greeted with a standing ovation as she walked to the podium from where she had sat with mum Terri and little brother Bob.

This is her speech in full:

"My Daddy was my hero - he was always there for me when I needed him.

He listened to me and taught me so many things but most of all he was fun.

I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did.

He built a hospital to help animals and he bought lots of land to give animals a safe place to live.

He took me and my brother and my mum with him all the time. We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together.

I don't want Daddy's passion to ever end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did.

I have the best Daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day.

When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals.

Daddy made this place his whole life and now it's our turn to help Daddy."

This article came from the Daily Telegraph - September 20, 2006

What an honor it must be to Steve watching down over his family to hear such a beautiful eulogy from his daughter. A eulogy that came straight from her heart.

Farewell Crocodile Hunter!

Tagged at Tanya's blog

I WANT: to live long enough to sit on the front porch with Rich and remember the olden days.
I HAVE: a husband who loves me unconditionally.
I WISH: that there was world wide peace and we wouldn't have to be afraid of terrorists.
I HATE: being ripped off at the gas stations.
I MISS: my best friend Danny, who died from complications of ALS.
I HEAR: nothing. It's quiet in the house.
I WONDER: who is going to read this and be tagged.
I REGRET: a few things in my life. But I know I can't go back and change anything.
I AM NOT: a smoker and I don't drive fast anymore.
I DANCE: like nobody else in this world.
I SING: while listening to the radio or CD player when scrapping.
I CRY: too much.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: in the mood to be sociable.
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: all kinds of crafts, home cooked meals and scrapbook layouts.
I WRITE: with a medium point pen.
I CONFUSE: myself.
I NEED: to hurry up and finish this as it's bedtime.
I SHOULD: exercise more.
I START: crafting and don’t want to stop. LOL
I FINISH: ed with this right now.

Consider yourself tagged!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Canning, Freezing and Drying Fruits and Veggies

I've been busy canning, freezing and drying fruits and veggies since I last posted.

Bobbie brought me tomatoes when she visited. I dried 4 trays of tomato slices, and made 6 - 1 1/2-pints of Zesty Tomatoes to put in the freezer. These are like Ro-tel or diced tomatoes with green chilies.

I bought a dozen ears of sweet corn and cut it off the cob for packages in freezer. I saved the corn cobs to make into Corncob Jelly. I will post the recipe later.

I have a batch of Crisp Sweet Pickles that will be canned tomorrow.

Dad and Mae have continued to keep me supplied in Blackberries. I've put several 1 cup packages of whole berries in the freezer. I have juiced some of the berries and put that in pint containers to make jelly as we need it. I had blackberry juice left from last year and I made 5 pints of Blackberry Jelly yesterday.

I had Concord Grape juice left from last year and I made 5 pints of Concord Grape Jelly this morning. Soon it will be time to pick Concord Grapes at Bobbie's. Of course, we have to share with Lucy. I never in my life seen a dog that will pick grapes from the vine and eat them.

I dried 4 trays of zucchini slices. I love to use them as chips and dip in Ranch Dressing. I grated some of the zucchini for the freezer in 1 cup packages. I will use these for breads, muffins, and soups.

I do hope this weekend to get some Bartlett pears to can and dry. I'll also check the farmer's market for bargains on fruits and veggies. Last time I was at the farmer's market I found a huge bag of green peppers for $2..............they are now all dried and waiting to be added to my recipes.

That's all for today.

Crocodile Hunter - Steve Irwin.........1962 - 2006

It has been sad around our home since hearing about the death of Crocodile Hunter - Steve Irwin. We didn't know him personally, other than watching him on TV. It still feels like we lost a member of our family. Rich and I both love all the creatures that God put on this earth..........well maybe not spiders for me. Steve was like that...........from the biggest animal to the tiniest of animals he loved them all. The world lost a great conservationist the day that Steve died. Our prayers go out to Teri, Bindie and baby Bob and all the staff at Australian Zoo.

You've Been Tagged

If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? Way out in the woods with nobody around for miles.

What's your favorite article of clothing? Jeans

Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex? Face

What's the last CD that you bought? While The Eagle Sleeps - Alice Gomez (Native American Flute)

Where's your favorite place to be? Outside enjoying Mother Nature

Where's your least favorite place to be? Inside doing housework

What's your favorite place to be massaged? Back

Strong in mind or strong in body? Strong in mind

What time do you wake in the morning? 4:00 a.m.

What's your favorite kitchen appliance? Bread Machine - I have two.

What makes you really angry? People who look down on others with handicaps

If you could play any instrument, what would it be? Piano

Favorite color? Red

Which do you prefer, sports car or SUV? Sports car - my dream is to own a Miata

Do you believe in afterlife? Yes

Favorite children's book? Ferdinand the Bull - I read this book to my three sisters when they were toddlers.

What is your favorite season?s Autumn - when Mother Nature puts on her multi-colored coat

What's your least favorite household chore? Dishes

If you could have one super power, what would it be? Be invisible

If you have a tattoo, what is it? Not yet

Can you juggle? No

The one person from your past you wish you could go back and talk to? Danny, my best friend that died December 26, 2004 from complications of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

What's your favorite day? Saturday

What's in the trunk of your car? Emergency Kit

Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger? Neither one - I'm vegetarian

NOW, if you're reading this, consider yourself TAGGED.
Copy & paste the questions into your blog :)

Happy 74th Birthday, Dad

Rich and I spent the afternoon with Dad celebrating his 74th birthday. We took Dad a homemade Coconut Cream pie. It turned out that Dad had been looking at the recipe for Coconut Cream pie to see if he could make one.

Busy as a Bee!!!!!!!!!

I've been busy as a bee this morning. I'm trying to clean the top of the computer desk after a weekend of scrapping. What a job!!!!!!!! You would think I would learn to put everything back where it belongs. NO.............I have to throw it here and there and everywhere. No wonder I couldn't find anything.

Poor Rich!!!!!!!!! He has to share the computer with me. He never complains about how much stuff is on the desk as long as he can use the mouse, keyboard and get to his cupboard.

I'm off to work in the kitchen.

What a Scrappy Weekend!!!!!!!!!

Challenge #10 - Create a list of 10 items, things, sayings, etc. Cardstock only and flowers.
Challenge #8 - Double layout...........Wildest Dreams theme, 3 plus photos, 2 plus patterned paper and ribbon
Challenge #9 - Sewing, Paper tearing and flower (Oops! I think I spelled Flamingos wrong?)
Challenge #4 - School Photo, quote, notebook paper
Challenge #3 - Transparency, one tag and paint
Challenge #5 - Doodling, Ribbon or RicRak, Brads, Chipboard
Challenge #6 - Monochromatic
Challenge #7 - 3 tags and 4 different fonts in journaling

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a awesome cyber crop. I was able to get all 10 challenges done. They were so much fun. I used photos of our 32nd Anniversary visit to Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon on all the challenges except one. I now have 10 pages to go in that album.

I can't believe it........................I WON A PRIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will post my prize when I receive it.

I didn't get a chance to do Scrap101's Friday Night Challenge or Weekend Warrior Challenge.

Transparent Touches Cyber Crop Weekend

Challenge #2 - 3 plus patterned paper and 2 photos
Challenge #1- 1 metal item, 2 different ribbons, 3 photos, paper-tearing and random words of description

It's Cyber Crop Weekend at Transparent Touches. They are having all kinds of questions to answer and several challenges. These are two of the challenges that I did this evening. There's a third challenge.........I have to go shopping to do it tomorrow.

Of course, when I told Rich I was participating in a Cyber Crop he had something cute to say!!!!
He asked me if this was like the Scrap From Your Stash Contest. I told him...........Sorry, I get to buy with this crop. He then smiled sweetly and told me that he didn't mind what I bought for my scrapbooking.

Well off to try and do Scrap101's FNChallenge. It's a toughy.........use 25 embellishments on a layout.

Busy preparing for Winter

Our friend, Carrie in Canyonville gave us some of her Gravestein Apples recently. I've been busy making applesauce out of them. So far I've made 14 pints of applesauce. I still have enought apples to make at least 14 pints more. The apples are so sweet that I haven't had to add any sugar to them.

Besides putting up applesauce I've put strawberries, blackberries and blueberries in the freezer, canned cherries and made strawberry and cherry jam. I was going to can some apricots but I found canned apricots and fruit cocktail on sale and I purchased a half case of each.

I need to go over to Dad's and pick some more blackberries and make blackberry jelly. I want to get some peaches to can and dehydrate, apples to can for pies, apple jelly, apple butter and dehydrate, bartlett pears to can and dehydrate and Italian plums to dehydrate. Hopefully Bobbie will have extra concord grapes this year to make grape jelly.

I also need to get some corn to put in the freezer and dehydrate, onions to dehydrate, potatoes to dehydrate and pumpkin to freeze and make pumpkin butter.

I get really tired due to having fibromyalgia and it is really hard to can or put up my fruits and veggies. I just have to do a little at a time and then rest. It's taken me 5 days to can 14 pints of applesauce. I used to do that much in one afternoon.

My First Scrapbook Class

Finally after 15 years of scrapbooking I decided to take a scrapbook class. It was okay. We made a mini album out of file folders. I didn't really learn too much. The class I took was at my LSS in Roseburg. I think why I wasn't really impressed with the class was because the instructor kept talking about if you were "A personality" you would do this, and if you were "B personality" you would do that..............I don't know if I'm "A or B personality". I do know that I'm the child who doesn't color inside the lines.........is that A or B personality????????????????

I've decided that I'll stick to my homeschooling of scrapbooking and spend my money on more patterened paper.

Greeting Cards for Week 2

It's the second week of the Greeting Card Challenge at Scrap101. I've completed a few more cards to upload. This has been a lot of fun for me. I've never made greeting cards other than digital in a card program. I enjoyed using some of my tea-bag folded medallions on the cards. On a couple of cards I just used 3 sections of the medallion to create a top and bottom design. I have some more cards but I'm having trouble uploading them. I'll try later this afternoon to upload them.

Quotes

I love quotes. I have a notebook where I keep them. I thought I'd share a few with you this afternoon.

"Artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons." Al Hirschfeld

"Sisters are like flowers in bloom, each unique, each beautiful, and sure to make you smile." Unknown

"I would rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special." Shelby, Steel Magnolias

"Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have." Unknown

"Friends are the puzzle pieces that complete life." Unknown

"When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure." Unknown

"Somewhere there's someone who dreams of your smile, and finds in your presence that life is worth while. So when you are lonely, remember it's true, somebody somewhere is thinking of you." K. Blackburn

"I wrote your name in the sky, but the wind blew it away. I wrote your name in the sand, but the waves washed it away. I wrote your name in my heart and forever it will stay." Jessica Blade

"Winter is a etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." Unknown

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." Scott Adams

"Every sunrise is a message from God.........Every sunset, God's signature." Arthur Ward

"Happiness is the ability to completely lose yourself in a task or hobby." Unknown

"True love is like a circle; never ending and forever flowing." Mystic Dreamer

"Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God." Unknown

"My greatest fear is that there is no PMS and this is my personality." Unknown

"Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf." Native American Proverb

Well, that's all for this time.

Greeting Cards

In the past when I made Greeting Cards I used a computer program - Printmaster. I joined in a Greeting Card Challenge with the ladies of Scrap101. So I started making some cards using clipart and scrapbook supplies.

I think I'm addicted.........Rich is going to love to hear that!!!!!!!!!!!! I already have so many hobbies.

The first one I did was "Wild Thing". I love to make medallions with teabag folding. This one was white tigers and I used a gold and black button in the center.

I'm off to find some sentiments to put in more cards.

I told you I'm hooked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Create My Keepsake Blog Challenge

1. Tell me why your blog is named what it is........................My blog is named in memory of a special friend of mine, Danny. Danny and I shared a passion for Wolves. Danny died December 26, 2004 from complications of ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease.

2. Tell me one person you admire as a scrapper/artist and why.....................My sister, Bobbie. What I admire about her is her ability to continue growing and meeting the challenges of scrapbooking. Her layouts are changing all the time as she learns new techniques and the availability of new products. In fact for a challenge on Scrap101 I scraplifted one of her layouts.

3. What is one thing you've never tried on a layout or project that you'd like to try................Chipbooard Letters. I have some that I received from a swap and I haven't tried them yet. They intimidate me.................I know I just got to sit down and get started.

4. What is your favorite time of year to scrap and why...........Autumn. I just love all the beautiful colors that God has given us.

5. List 2 other people's scrappy blogs that you enjoy reading and post a link to them..................Bobbie's http://scrapbookbobbie.blogspot.com/ and Tanya's http://princess-tanya-is-in.blogspot.com/

These were fun questions to answer. I'll try doing this more often.

Christmas in July at Create My Keepsake

These ornaments were fun to make. I didn't have any photos to put int he top two.......so I printed out some clipart. The bottom one is Bandit. He loved green M&M's. The bow is one of his that he got in his top-knot after being groomed.
I made the Cooke Tin out of a coffee can. These will be cute for Christmas cookies. Snack box.....These will make cute little boxes for Homemade Candies or Caramel Corn.

Lots of fun this weekend participating in Create My Keepsake's Christmas in July cyber crop. They offered 7 different projects. I was only able to get 3 projects done.........but I plan on doing the rest of them after I go shopping.

Mutt

I ran across this photo of a little Mutt. It reminds me so much of my little friend, Bandit. We got Bandit at a flea mart when he was about 6 weeks old. He was a fluffy little ball of fur in brown and white. He had the cutest little black mask around his eyes..........so naturally we named him Bandit.

Bandit was quite a character..........you see it ended up that we didn't own Bandit - he owned us. He thought store bought dog food should belong to somebody else. He thought he should eat exactly what Rich and I ate...........no special food for him.

It was a crime to think that he might sleep in a dog bed...............his rightful place to sleep at night was on the end of our bed. When Rich was working graveyard............he slept on Rich's pillow and loved to snuggle under the covers. He picked out his favorite place to sleep on the couch...........and heaven forbid if anyone happened to sit there. One time Mom and Dad was visiting us when we lived in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Mom sat on the end of the couch. She asked me why Bandit was staring at her so much. I told her that he felt that was his sleeping spot. Later, when Mom got up to do something..............you guessed it! Bandit jumped up on his spot and slept the rest of the afternoon............occasionally looking at Mom as if to say: This is my spot and don't sit on it again.

Bandit also had his own quilt with his name embroidered on it that my sister, Sandy made for him and a miniature afghan that I had crocheted for him. He owned a personalized collar with matching leash.

Bandit and I would go for a walk............when he got tired he sat down and wouldn't budge. No matter what I tried...........he would just sit there with his big brown eyes and refuse to move. I would have to pick him up and carry him back to the house.

It's been over 10 years since Bandit crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. He's up there watching over us and keeping us safe.

Bandit

I miss you my dear friend, Danny

I miss you my dear friend, Danny. I miss your smiling eyes, shy sense of humor, funny jokes and stories you would email, little cards you sent that let me know you were thinking of me, picnics in the middle of winter, nature walks, the list goes on and on.

I miss those times when we would just sit and listen to music..........the golden oldies or Native American..........it did'nt matter. Mom told me that the last two weeks of your life you listened to the Native American CD I gave you 24 hours a day. I hope my dear friend that you found comfort in that CD..............I know I always feel close to you when I listen to the CD now.

Yes, I miss you so much. I realize that now you are in no pain from ALS, you are not suffering the horrible nightmares that plagued you since you returned from Vietnam, no more are the feelings you had about being rejected, no longer no being able to speak, sing, dance, and do all the things that you lost from the complications of ALS.

Take care my friend.