Thoughts of a Grasshopper

I'm in a swap, several actually, that require the cards to be, dare I say, more simple. I'm having a hard time coming up with cards. One of the swaps is a western theme. I wanted to use Bronc Buster because never even trimmed the rubber. I envisioned having a brayered sunset, got that far and what I thought I would do didn't work out. The end result was the top card. While it is OK, I find it looks better from a distance and up close the color just doesn't seem right. Maybe it was lacking that masculine look. I changed the color and the DP and ended up with the lower left. I was liking this one a lot more. Still needed a little something so I added the sanded background, which I liked better chalked but took too much time, and the choc. chip strip at the top and it seemed to pull together more for me. The bottom right is what I went with for the swap. Stamps: Bronc Buster, Sanded Paper: More Mustard, Choc. Chip, B...

My son's troop has been collecting and sorting brass for about a week now for a Wild West jubilee. Today is the first time the girls and I have participated. My husband has gone once to collect and they have gone twice to a leader's home to sort. Today everything was done at the site. It was fun to see how everyone was dressed for the event. Most people were dressed fully in old-time western style and there was even a bride. I did see one man with a western hat and it had mini blinds on the front. When I saw him they were pulled up but the boys tell me he was looking at them through the blinds earlier. I thought that was a hoot. At one point someone's daughter pointed out that a baby rattlesnake was under the Steve's chair next to me. I wanted to get my camera but it was in my purse between my chair and Steve's and there was no way I was reaching down to get it. I did snap a couple of pictures after Steve got a rake and started forcing it away from our are...

I usually try to check out the sketch challenge on Tuesday night at SCS before calling it a night. I was delightfully surprised to see a simple sketch. Of course, the first question is what set to use. As I was mulling this over in my mind, I noticed the glittered flower on my desk from the card I did a couple of weeks ago and decided to use it. Stamps: Fabulous Flowers, Boho Backgrounds, One of a Kind CS: WW, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red, More Mustard Ink: More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie Misc: Ruby Red Mark, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals, Mustard Grosgrain

I started this book 3 weeks ago and found it to be really hard to get into. I found it to be redundant throughout the book, heck even at the end, she was repeating was was said several times in the beginning. I think I would have been more interested in the book had I not known much about the FLDS. I've had the opportunity to talk with someone that left the church and with that conversation, my curiosity was piqued and I learned much more. Of course, with the children that were recently taken, it was yet another opportunity to learn of their beliefs. I put the book aside for almost two weeks before picking it up again. Once I was about a third of the way through the book it started to get a little more interesting. I've been done with it for several days now and have pondered what it was I would have liked to have read. I think it all comes down to I wanted more emotion and feeling. While she writes of her frustrations, she is so removed from her writing that I had trou...

I made this flower first and then I ended up not using it. I liked the way it looked and wanted to use it. I pulled the ribbon a little tight and popped the word out of the hardware, which I didn't notice when I took the picture. A simple card. Sets: Stitched Exotics, Baroque, Wonderful Favorites CS: Old Olive, Brocade Blue, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, VV Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, More Mustard Misc: Dimensionals, ribbon, hardware, markers: brocade, mustard & choc. chip

One of the sets I got recently and hadn't done a thing with. I'm not sure what I was thinking I would do with this set and I took it out to work with and see what I could come up with. I went to play Apples to Apples with the kids and may have grumbled that I didn't have any idea what I was doing but I had a card base and two flowers. I started off using the Stitched background with craft brocade blue on chocolate chip CS and embossed it with clear EP. I used markers for the flowers because the borders are different colors. On the Rose Red flower the stitching is olive, mustard and brocade. Once again, I'm grateful for Debra advising me to use the stamp-a-ma-jig with a different set. I've pulled that out so many times since and the stitching for the leaves I can't even imagine trying to stamp without it. This is one of those cards that looks better in person because some of the details are definitely lost in the picture. Stamps: Stitched Exotics, Stitched ...

I needed to take an appetizer tonight and decided to give this recipe a try. It was so good and something slightly different. I think it would be better with another jalapeno tossed in because it was beyond mild, the kids liked it though. The dish was empty within half an hour. Grilled Corn Dip 6 medium ears sweet corn, husks removed 1 large onion, chopped 1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 2T butter 1C mayonnaise 1/2C sour cream 1/2t chili powder 2C (8 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese 1 Can (2-1/4 oz.) sliced olives, drained 2T sliced green onions Tortilla chips Grill corn, covered, over medium heat for 10-12 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally. Cut corn from cobs. In a large skillet, saute the onion, jalapeno and garlic in butter for 2-3 minutes or until almost tender. Add corn, saute 1-2 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender. Remove from the heat. In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream and chili powder. Stir in cheese and co...

It is always fun to do invitations for one of the kids because they change the theme and the number of kids they are inviting so much. This is the final invite that is being delivered tonight. It makes perfect sense that she would want animals on her invitation. We went to the library to see a magician perform today. Had I given it any thought, I would have realized he would be using bugs in his performance. The one that freaked me out the most was the tarantula. All the kids were grossed out by the Madagascar cockroaches and the two that were loved were the dove and the rabbit. We don't usually take in events at the library but I thought the animal lovers in our house would be thrilled with it.

Debra tagged me Saturday. She is such a talented stamper and we seem to have the same taste in sets. I just like her style. So, here are the 5 things you're supposed to do once you've been tagged. 1- 10 years ago...I was one week away from giving birth to our second child. I remember being grateful that I was having her at the beginning on the summer and didn't have to spend the summer being miserable in the heat. 2- 5 things in today's 'to-do' list...1] Go to the post office to get mail and send off a RAK or two (or three), 2] Get the kids assigned their chores or make a chart depending on how they want to approach them this summer, 3] upload cards here that I've made over the past week, 4] clean my bathroom, 5] make cookies 3- Snacks that I enjoy...1] chocolate covered cashews, 2] yogurt raisins, 3] cinnamon sweet potato chips, 4] grape tomatoes, 5] cherries or watermelon lately 4- Things I would do if I were a millionaire... 1] Buy a new van, 2] have...

This page was created using a template from Cookie Decorating 101 . Some of you may recall last year when the girls made flyers to hang up around the parks in the area advertising their "Scooter Stars Show". They were so intent on having a great show that they practiced doing their scooter tricks every day. My assignment was to provide the snacks because people would be thirsty and/or hungry while they were there. I have several cards I've made for swaps I'm in and I still haven't found the one I'm in love with and would be proud to swap. I will try to get what I've done uploaded early in the week. Tomorrow is a busy day and I don't think I'll have much computer time.

I have several swaps due in one month, one of which is a sparkle swap. I'm not in love with this card so I will have to come up with something else. I do like the design, not necessarily the colors and the DP isn't current so I would be able to use it. I just really needed a dark brown color there. Stamps: Fabulous Flowers, Sanded CS: Ruby Red, VV, Au Chocolat DP Ink: Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive Misc: Blender Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, glue pen, olive ribbon

A friend recently gave me this recipe and I love it. I made it to take to a friend and her husband so she wouldn't have to cook while she adjusts to life with a newborn. I like recipes where you mix it ahead of time and then all you have to do is cook it when it is time and this is one of those recipes. The recipe says to have it marinate for at least 12 hours - it is better if it marinates for 24 hours or more. Bulgogi 1 (16 oz.) tenderloin, thinly sliced 1 sm. green pepper, sliced 1 med. onion, chopped 2 garlic gloves, minced 1/2t black pepper 2 med. carrots, sliced 3T sesame oil 2T toasted sesame seeds 1/2C soy sauce (I use low-sodium) 1/4C beer (I use apple juice) salt to taste 2T brown sugar 2T sherry Mix all ingredients in a large bowl; marinate for at least 12 hours. Cook in a large skillet over medium heat until meat and vegetables are tender. Serve over rice. *Note - I use cornstarch to thicken the sauce. I like Basmati rice with this dish.

We go to Colorado several times a year but I don't take pictures much any more when we are there. These are from last year when we were at my father-in-law's place. The scenery on his property is so beautiful. He just sold the land and will have to move to other land he owns or buy a house. Kind of sad and yet it is what needs to be or he wouldn't have done it. This day was so much fun for the kids because they love to ride on his equipment. We had a picnic outside, relaxed, and enjoyed each other's company. Knowing the kids, there was a water fight that day too. It doesn't matter if it is the middle of winter, there is always a water fight when you see Grandpa. Much to my chagrin, it has even happened in the house in the middle of winter.

I received my stamp order Friday and I haven't managed to put it away yet. It is out of the box and sitting on my desk. I had to go to bed last night after being up until 5 a.m. trimming box tops and soup labels to get them in the mail yesterday for the deadline. It wound up being a really busy day with meetings and checking on people that need some TLC. I made dinner for my friend and her husband. She broke her ribs and I wanted to do something for her. Then we went on to the batting cage and I forgot my ID. Not very convenient when you need to get back on base to not have any form of ID, however, the guard has seen me enough that he helped me out with a 20 minute pass to get on and get home. We were back at the field by 8:30 this morning for another win. I was worried in the first inning when it was 6-2 but they pulled it out. After lunch, we went to the Scholastic warehouse for a 50% off sale. Then we did a little shopping for my son's upcoming camping trip. We sp...