Project for 2010

I drove home today through downtown San Jose- now let me tell you, this is no big deal as downtown is only about 1 mile long! San Jose is built around neighborhoods, most people have to go no more than 2 miles in any direction for anything they need - movies, cleaners, grocery stores, shopping malls, etc. So downtown San Jose has almost no retail business, other than a lot of great restaurants- however, there is a lot of old and new architecture here- the main library is downtown and the convention center and the center for performing arts are all there as well - and I realized, that although I have lived here the major portion of my life, I really don't have any photos of the area. Since I plan to retire in the next 2-2 1/2 years, I've decided that this year I will work on taking photos of the places I go, places with interesting architecture, etc., until I have a good photo representation of San Jose. I doubt I'll get it scrapped this year, but I will have the photos, so they can be scrapped any time!

This will allow me to play with my photo skills a bit, and see what kind of interesting photos I can take. Should prove interesting!

Waiting for 2010

Christmas is over, the decorations have been taken down, the house is back to clean and simple. I love my Christmas decorations and have a lot of fun getting them displayed every year, but by the day after Christmas, I'm ready to put them away, and I usually do! This is something that I've just started in oh say, the last 7-8 years. I used to always leave the tree and all the decorations up until New Year's Day, that's the way we always did it when I was growing up, so I just continued that tradition. But now, it's all cleaned up shortly after Christmas, not only at my house, but in all my family's too. We've all changed that tradition.

Just catching up on odds and ends this week - we have the week off work, and I always look forward to this week- I have to go in for a couple of hours tomorrow to make sure all the loose ends are tied up for year end - but it's quite there, no one else is in, there's no traffic, and I can go in whatever time I want!

That's all the news for today!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve was so much fun! Great dinner with family- the 3 year old was so excited she can't stand it- the 2 week old- he's just slept! Another couple of years before he really gets into Christmas.

Merry Christmas Eve!

It's here! Christmas Eve. Long awaited, and soon over so fast!

Hope Everyone is exactly where they want to be!

It's almost Christmas!

The bags are packed just waiting to be loaded into the car- the house is - uh - straightened up - the cats are fed and have food and water for the next few days.
I'll work about 1/2 a day tomorrow then head off to the family and celebrate Christmas.

I'm ready!

Recipe Wednesday!

Since it's so close to Christmas, this definitely needs to be a Christmas recipe ...hmmmm- which one - there are so many favorites at Christmas... Got it - this is a great Christmas morning breakfast!

Eggnog Pancakes

• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups eggnog (can use light)
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 large egg, beaten


1.In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk to blend ingredients.

2.Preheat griddle to medium-high (I set my electric skillet to 300 degrees F).

3.In a separate bowl, stir together eggnog, oil, and egg. Pour into dry ingredients and whisk just until dry ingredients are moistened. Batter will be fairly thick.

4.Drop batter by quarter-cupfuls onto oiled skillet. Cook pancakes until bottoms are golden brown and bubbles appear on the surface. (Because the batter is so thick, check the bottoms before bubbles break at the surface so they don't burn.) Turn and cook other side. Keep warm in oven until all the batter is cooked.

5.Serve pancakes warm with butter and syrup or honey. Enjoy!

Serves 4 to 6.

Swedish Saffron Bread

During the 1990-1991 school year, I had an exchange student from Umea, Sweden. It was a great year and we exchanged a lot of ideas, traditions, etc.

Just before Christmas she made Saffron bread, or as I reacently found out, it's also called lussekatter.

2 years later I flew to Sweden to spend Christmas with her and her family. I got to have this wonderful Saffron Bread again - and that's the last time!

Something came over me today and I decided I wanted to make the Saffron bread, there were many recipes on the internet, but I couldn't decide which one to try, so what else to do but email my student's mother and ask her for the recipe. She sent it right back. It was in Swedish, but I knew it would be. I found a great Swedish to English translater at Google, and after copying the recipe to a word document, I was able to upload that document and it came back instantly, translated into English. The ingredient measurements were still in the metric system, so I found a metric kitchen converter, said a litle prayer, and started in. This came together so easily, and when the first batch came out, I wanted to scream with delight, they looked perfect, but I knew the true test was in the taste..I cold barely wait for them to start to cool down before I had to try one - Yes! That was exactly the taste I remembered! What fun!

Here's a picture of the finished product:



I think I just started a new tradition!

Number of 2009 posts vs 2008 posts

I just looked at the number of posts I had in 2008 - the real first year of my blog - and I had 120- then I looked at this year, and oops, it's only at 99 - and even if I post every day for the rest of the month (doubt that will happen) I'd only be at about 115/116 - so don't think I'll get as many blog posts this year as I did last.
Somthing to work on for next year!

Cards are in the mail, packages have yet to be wrapped - and I'm still up in the air about doing any more baking - many of the family members can't or don't want to eat sweets, so we've cut way back - and I can't see making stuff just to be making it, though sometimes I do miss the special "christmas" stuff we used to make - but oh those calories! yeesh! We'll see what the weekend brings.

Happy Holidays!

Just a Thursday!

I got a new camera recently, after seeing the pictures a friend took with hers. I've been working with it, and this is the first picture I printed -I love it. I want to think it's the camera that made it come out so well! This plant was a present from another friend for my birthday-and the cats aren't eating it.

Off to new things!

Weekend

I had a pretty productive weekend! After realizing I was only home 1 weekend out of 4 in November, I decided it was definitely time to stay home this weekend, and stay home I did, not even venturing out in the car one time. I did walk around the park by my house yesterday, but that was more to try out my new camera than anything else.

I managed to get all my Christmas cards finished - not mailed yet because the post office hasn't delivered the stamps I ordered, but hopefully today. (You see, one of the 3 things I dislike doing more than anything else, is going to the post office)

I also managed to get all the laundry caught up- so now I won't have to do it until after Christmas, I got the craft room straightened up, but it never stays that way long, I finished 2 Christmas presents, and this week I plan to finish the rest.

Christmas shopping was pretty easy this year, most everyone on my list wanted cash or gift cards - so that was easy enough to do - some I even did on line! Now I just have to be creative with the wrapping so they don't guess them quite right off the bat!

This morning we got a great early Christmas present, little Colton Hud arrive at 5:552 am this morning, mother and son are doing well, and Dad is glad this part's over!

Recipe Wednesday- Currie Soup

1 onion - chopped
2 1/2 Tbs butter

Melt butter, add onion and 2 tsp curry powder

Cook 5 minutes, covered

Add 2 T flour, 4 1/2 cups bouillion Stir well

Add milk or cream to your taste and for consistency you like.

Enjoy!

Who says...?

California doesn't have a fall season?

Leaves don't change colors in California?

California does have a fall season and trees in California do change colors. I took these pictures in early November.

Christmas Music!

I like Christmas music- I really enjoy it - but at the right time! I turned on the car radio on my way home last night, to hear Christmas music. The station I listen to all the time has already started playing Christmas music 24 hours a day- I like Christmas music and look forward to it about this time of year - but I don't know if I can take 37 days of it! If this keeps up, they'll be playing Christmas music 365 days a year! Can you imagine 4th of July BBQ, Fireworks and Christmas music?

2 years ago the station started playing Christmas music 24 hours a day, the day after Thanksgiving. That's perfect for me -

Last year they started playing it the Monday before Thanksgiving, ok, a tad early but ok.

This year, a whole week before Thanksgiving - that's just a liite more than even I, the ultimat Christmas fan, may be able to handle!

I may have to find a new favorite radio station for a few days!

Recipe Wednesday

Here it is - 2 for 1! :)

Beef Stroganoff

2 lbs beef tenderloin, cut into 1/4" strips
1/4 C flour
1 1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/4 C butter
1 clove garlic
1 C chopped onion
1 lb fresh sliced mushrooms
2 T butter 1 T tomato paste
2 T flour 1 C Sour cream
1 can beef consome

Combine 1/4 C flour, salt and pepper; coat meat.
Melt 1/4 C butter in fry pan. Brown meat on both sides. Add garlic, onion and mushrooms; fry til golden. Move meat and vegetables to one side of pan - to other side of pan add 2 T butter and 2 T flour, blend. Add tomato paste and beef broth, mix well with meat and vegetables. Cook until thickened. Add sour cream - heat through, do not boil! Serve over buttered noodles. (Serves 6)


Healthy String (Green) Beans

1 large can green beans, (empty out liuid and rinse with water several times).
1 whole onion, quartered and taken apart
1 pkg sliced smoked turkey ( I skip this and add a few drops of liquid smoke)
4 beef bouillion cubes (or 4 teaspoons powdered beef bouillion)
Place all in cooking pan, cover with water and simmer for several hours!

Enjoy! I promise you will!

Travelin' Weekend

I took a red-eye flight on Thursday night and spent the weekend with a long time friend and her husband. it was a wonderful weekend, we spent hours and I do mean hours, talking, catching up, comparing and learning!

We've been friends since Jr. High, and have always kept in touch via birthday and Christmas cards, and the odd quick hour when both of us were in our hometown at the same time- but it's been a long time since we had an uninteruptted 48 hours to spend together.

Their home is lovely (no, "N", I still can't figure out why!) they are wonderful hosts, and "B" cooked up some very good dinners! We took a trip to Hobby Lobby, one of my favorite stores and there are none here in California, so that was a wonderful treat! We're both ready to do it again, and we will!



There's a song that sums it all up for me:

Old Friends

Hey, old friend
What d’ya say, old friend?
Are you okay, old friend?
Are we, are we unique?

Time goes by
Everything else keeps changing
You and I, we can continue next week, yeah

Most friends fade
Or they don’t make the grade
New ones are quickly made
And in a pinch, sure, they’ll do

But us, old friend
What’s to discuss, old friend?
Here’s to us, who’s like us?
Damn few!

Thanks B&N for a great weekend!

xoxo

Looking for Recipe Wednesday?

Me too! LOL - check back next week - it will be a 2 for 1!

:)

Recipe Wednesday- Chicken Stuffing Casserole

I decided to put a few recipes out here- I love to cook and I have RECIPES! I don't just mean recipes, or Recipes, but RECIPES - not just in a drawer, not just in a cupboard, not just in the kitchen, but all over my house!

I don't know where I got all of these, some from friends, some from family, some from magazines, websites, you name it. Some I don't remember, but when I do, I'll try to give credit where credit is due!

This week - Chicken Stuffing Casserole - easy and delicious! (from a friend in Ohio)

6 bone in chicken breasts (I often use boneless, and reduce cooking time to 1 hour and uncover for 20 minutes)
6 slices Monterey Jack Cheese - (if you can't find slices, just cover each breast with cheese
1 pkg StoveTop stuffing (cooked according to directions
1 can Cream of chicken soup.

Spray 9x3 pan with PAM. Place chicken breasts on bottom of pan
Cover with Jack cheese
Pour cream of chicken soup over all (don't dilute)
Cover with prepared stuffing and cover pan with foil, sealing edges.
Bake at 325 for 2 hours, remove foil for the last 40 mimutes

This also is a great recipe for the crock pot. Put in the same order, cook on Medium for at least 6 hours - I've left it for 8-10 hours and it's just fine!

Enjoy!

Cuppacakeabella Birthday card

Friend's birthday is coming up - so I cooked this card up this weekend! This is my favorite Birthday Stamp!

Check in tomorrow - I'm starting Recipe Wednesday!

It's that time again!

Teacher: "Why do we have a Thanksgiving holiday?"
Student: "So we know when to start Christmas shopping!"

World Series

Ok, so this is about baseball- you have to know Baseball is my very favorite sport- to play (in my younger days) or to be a spectator! Given our proximity to San Francisco when growing up (ok it's the same distance to Los Angeles too) we grew up as SF Giants Fans - I think it's in our blood! My great grandmother and great aunt were always Giants fans, and when I was younger, if you went to either of their homes during baseball season, and a game was being played, they were listening to it on their radios. They developed a great knack of being able to participate in the conversation and know what was going on in the game.

My Matenal grandparents were Giants fans, so it follows that my Mom is a Giants fan, and of course my dad was a Giants fan as well. We started going up to San Francisco to Giants games when I was in the 6th grade- before that it was always baseball on the radio and we went several times a year after that until I went away to college. Then I was in San Jose, and that was just a short trip to the ball park, so I continued going to games!

Naturally it followed that when my sister and her husband moved to San Jose early in their married life, they were going to become Giants fans - so much so that when their first son was born, he came home from the hospital in an infants Giants uniform, and while she was in labor with their daughter - (that's when the Giant's Slogan "Humm Baby" was popular) the Doctor told her to just Humm that baby out of there!

We've continued the family tradition of Giants fans, as my 3 year old great niece recently ran the bases at one of the Giants last home games this year!

The only part of the family NOT Giants' fans is my other sister and her family - they live in Santa Maria, which is much closer to Los Angeles - so they have become, can I even say it - (It's a "D" Word) D o d g e r s' fans -oh the teasing that goes on!

So where is this taking us - oh yes, to the World Series - ok, so it's Philadelphia and the New York Yankees - primarily an East Coast World Series so not as interesting to most people on the West Coast- but wait, I lived in NYC for 5 years, and really do love the Yankees too - luckily they are in the American league, so I can root for them AND the Giants, without feeling the least bit guilty. So, I'm rooting for the Yankees, which may signal doom for them since every team I seem to root for has issues! Though they did win several World Series while I was living in NYC - that created a really fun time!

In any Event, Go Yankees!

Last Christmas Card Challenge

This is our last Christmas card challenge. I'm sad to see it end. It's been fun and I know I will miss it. Yes, I know I could keep doing it myself, but I know I won't. We've been doing it for 40 weeks, I missed a few, so I probably have 35-37 cards completed. I hope we can do it again next year.

This week's challenge was to create a diorama card. Of course I didn't follow the directions, exactly, I had to put my spin on it - and I think I might have made a better card if I had been a little closer to the directions, but I'm ok with how it turned out.

Hope you've enjoyed the weekly Christmas cards!

Home Towns

My 40 year class reunion was this past weekend - I debated forever about going - not a lot of my close high school friends were going - it's not near where I live now - it's about a 3 hour drive- and most of my friends moved far away- We were having a bridal shower for my niece that afternoon, in my home town, so I was going to be in town anyway and decided to just leave it to chance. I'd had a few emails from friends asking me to go, and when 5 pm rolled around, I made the decision to go!

I had a very enjoyable evening - I even surprised myself! I reconnected with a number of friends and we spent hours talking and catching up! There was a dance separate from the reunion, and people finally started heading that way about 8:30- 4 of us decided we'd rather talk without the noise from a band, and decided to head over to Superior Dairy. Now, I have to tell you, Superior Dairy is an independent dairy that has been in the town for I swear- about 75-100 years. It's family owned and they make the Best and I mean BEST Ice cream in the world. I just wanted a single scoop of chocolate chip, my all time favorite - here's a single scoop:



I even told the server I only ordered a single scoop, and she said this IS a single scoop! Needless to say, none of us even came close to finishing these.

I'm actually looking forward to the 50th! Holy cow - did I really say 50 years since graduation - good grief - that will seem like a lifetime- oh, it is!

Christmas Tag

This week's challenge was to create a Tag instead of a card. Here's mine!

Don't forget to check the work from the links on the left! --

Sketch Challenge

I know this isn't supposed to go up until tomorow - but our Annual Sales Conference starts tonight, and I will only have sporadic time/connection until Thursday! So this is a little early!

These are all A Muse stamps, and you may not be able to see it, but I used Versamark and stamped a snowflake as a background on the red - it looks good in person!

Don't forget to check out the work of the other Diva's- Links on the left <--

Color Challenge

This week's challenge was to use several different colors- I just don't have all those colors, so I chose a couple to work with - something similar to Midnight Navy Razzleberry that are from stampin up. I don't have any stampin up colors, so I came up with this...

Don't foreget to check out the cards from the other Diva's on the links at the left<-

Christmas Scene

This week's challenge was to create a scene - All the stamps I used are from A Muse

Non-traditional Christmas colors

This week, the challenge was not to use red, green or blue on the cards. I came upwith this one! Don't forget to check out the other cards from the links on the left~ <--

Sketch Challenge

This week's Christmas card was a sketch challenge. I love this new stamp I got - wanted it, didn't need it, bought it anyway! This was a fun challenge!

Don't forget to check the other cards from the links on the left <--

Paper Piecing Christmas Card

This week's challenge was to use paper piecing on the card. After looking at all the stamps I have, I realized I didn't have many that would lend themselvs to paper piecing! I finally found this one, and ended up "piecing" twice! The chair is pieced and so are the white cat and the pilow!

Don't forget to check the other Diva creations! <--

Traditional Christmas colors

This week's challenge was to use traditional Christmas Colors (Red & Green) and a splash of silver or gold. The wreath is in gold embossing powder - the image is new from A Muse stamps

Don't forget to check out the cards made by the rest of the team <--

Anything but Standard

The challenge this week was to make a card that was anything but the standard A2 (4 1/4 by 5 1/2. I thought a circle would be fun, and came up with this one!

Don't forget to check out the work of the other Divas- links on the left! <--

Sketch Challenge

I enjoyed this sketch challenge - and the card came together pretty easily. Don't forget to check out the cards made by the other marvelous Diva's, Links on the left <--

Spotllight

The challenge for this week's Christmas card was to use the Spotlight technique - it's not one of my favorites, but I gavew it the old college try.

Embossed card and Designer Paper

This week's challenge was to emboss a plain paper for the top and use a designer paper for the bottom half of the card. This is my take!

Don't forget to check the other Design Divas- listed on the left! <---

Christmas Card Sketch challenge

This week's challenge was a sketch Challenge from Maria. I put the cricut to good use in cutting the circle and the ovals! Easy peasy!

Fun card to make! Check out the cards from the other divas on the left <--

Inside and outside

This week the challenge for the Christmas card was to decorate not only the outside of the card, but the inside as well. There are some very clever cards in this week's group - so be sure to check them out using the links on the left! <--- I chose to go with another no stamp card! I think it may have taken longer than stamping and coloring a card, but I'm happy with the outcome!

Front

Inside

No Stamping Christmas card!

This week's challenge was to use NO Stamps on the card! This turned out to be a very easy challenge for me, so much so that I made 2 cards! With the help of Cricut, some circle punches and a cuttlebug folder, I was able to complete these in no time!

Don't forget to check out the work of the other Diva's on the Left <--

Happy 4th!

I've always enjoyed the 4th of July - as much for the meaning behind it as the fun, family, and food that also goes with it. It took me many, many years to be able to actually be in the vicinity of fireworks, the noise bothered me for a long time- even as a child I would put my hands over my ears whenever we stopped at railroad tracks to let a train go by - I just was not a fan of really loud noises. I have finally learned to be able to tolerate them, knowing they won't last all that long! But I love looking at them and am always in awe!

Have a safe and Happy!

It's a White Christmas - card!

This week's challenge was a mostly white Christmas card. I managed pretty well - I stamped an A Muse Christmas Image with Brilliance Ice Blue ink- added some liquid embroidery for a snow effect, added a few Snowflake brads, and backed the image with some silver paper - keeping it all in the family! This was a fun challenge!

Don't forget to check the other Divas on the left <----

Christmas Card Day

This week was a free challenge for the Christmas card- and the sketch was optional. I chose to follow the sketch and came up with this card!

Don't forget to check the other Diva's on the left! <-----

Partridge in a pear tree - with eyelets!

I'm not a big eyelet user, but there are 2 on this one to meet the Challenge! and it's a Partridge in a Pear Tree!

Buttons and Ribbons-minus the buttons!

We're supposed to use Buttons and Ribbons for this week's challenge - however I don't have buttons because I don't DO buttons - but I did manage to get some ribbon on this card!

Christmas card with Numbers

This week's challenge was to use a number on the card - There's mine - 12 days of Christms. I'm not the most creattive, so a challenge like this is really a challenge !

Check out the other cards made by the Diva's listed on the left!

Monday Christmas Card

This week the challenge was a sketch challenge - and that suits me just fine. I prefer sketch challenges, so I enjoyed this one!

Check out the great cards from the other Divas - list on the left!

Color Challenge Christmas Monday

This week the challenge for our Christmas Card wa to use Chocolate, Peach and Sage - very untraditional Christmas Colors and quite a challenge for me! I'm very traditional when it comes to Christmas!

Check out the other Christmas cards made by the Diva's on the left!

Gotta love Christmas Mondays!

This week's challege was to add a little bling to the card - maybe I added too little! LOL I added stickles at the top of the flame, the candles are done in Spica Glitter pen, and the Holly Berries are done in Red Stickles!

Monday Christmas Card!

Yes, vacation is over, and it's well back to reality! Had a great time on the cruise, I wasn't ready to get off, but they still made me! :(

Back into the swing of things now, so here's this weeks Christmas card! Be sure to check out the other Divas on the left!

Monday. Monday - Christmas Card!

Remember the old Mamma's and Pappa's song Monday, Monday - It has nothing to do with this post, but as I wrote Monday in the title, the song popped into my head!

This is challenge #12 - be sure to check out the other Divas on the link to the left!

Happy Easter Cards

-

Christmas card Monday

Since today is Monday, this must be a Christmas card! Mostly made from scraps, except the "flower" - I bought them this Christmas, but didn't get a chance to use them.

Don't forget to check the cards from the other divas, their blogs are on the left!

Wii Fit

I've been looking for a WiiFit for about 6 months now - they're continually out of stock in most stores I checked, or the price was double what it should be and double on internet sites too! I finally found one this weekend - and finally got it out and hooked up Sunday night.

It says I'm not fit, ok no great news flash there, I knew that, that's why I bought the darn thing! But it also says I am totally out of balance and wonders if I fall a lot or do I use a walker or a cane - ok, now that's going just a bit too far! I've come to the conclusion that it's not as much a matter of being fit (I do need to work on that) as it is a matter of not being coordinated! I've NEVER been coordinated, I'm the kid that used to fall off the tricycle! Think about that one!
Yes, I did learn to ride a regular bike without training wheels without too much difficulty.

I was also so un-coordinated as a child my parents put me in ballet school to try and help - I think it did, plus it was fun! My eye hand coordination is pretty good, but the left foot, right foot, back forward thing - still isnt' what it should be. I can stand on one foot with no problem, but trying to maneuver my feet and legs into different positions at the same time - well, maybe I do need a cane!

Let's see how this goes for a few days- oh, I did do the ski Slalom and got to the Advanced level on my 2nd try - now does that sound like I'm out of balance?

If it's Monday - it must be Christmas!

I think I need to quit taking things so literally. I see the sketch, and I do it exactly, and I mean exactly as shown. I think I need to challenge myself to think a little more outside the box! I do that in everything else, why not with these? I guess it's just my nature to follow the rules exactly! I think I need to give myself a break! In any event, here's my card for this week's sketch!

Christmas Card Monday

Here's my Christmas card for this week! Don't forget to check out the other Divas on the left!

My favorite -Tilda for St. Patrick's Day

I made several St Patrick's Day cards, and this turned out to be my favorite, though the Chelly from Paper Makeup Stamps came in a very close 2nd.

Christmas Monday - no card!

This week's challenge just didn't click with me - I sat for hours trying to come up with something, but it just never manifested itself!

But be sure to check out the other Christmas cards from the Divas on the left!

Another Green card!

This stamp is from the new Paper Makeup Fairy Collection. So Cute!

St Patrick's Day Bella!

I colored a Bella so it's more of a St Patrick's themed card!

Kitty Cat Friday

Since it's Friday the 13th, I should have made a scary kitty, but I liked this one better for today!

Colored with Copics! Paper is from SEI.

St Patrick's Day Cards

I've got some St Patrick's Day cards ready to go into the mail, so I'll post a few before posting my favorite Next Tuesday! I'll start with Stella Bella! It's amazing what some green and gold can turn an regular stamp into!