Thoughts of a Grasshopper

I wish I took some pictures as I went along but I wanted to share with you something that I made a couple of weeks ago for a decoration outside this year.  This was a two-hour project. In October, I bought to rolls of mesh ribbon.  One was white and the other red.  I can't visualize what I intended but I think I planned to use it above the windows . . . somewhere.  Perhaps on a wreath but I doubt that due to the size of my wreaths.  Due to the colors of the mesh, it seemed logical to make a candy cane.  I went to the store and bought some green ribbon for a bow, which I think needs to be a little lower on the candy cane but it will do for this year. We had left over chicken wire from a science fair project last year.  I rolled it to make a cylinder shape, securing it with zip ties and then shaped it for a candy cane.  The hook of the cane wouldn't stay bent so I used some wire (silver floral wire) to connect the base of the hook to the ...

I love Pinterest.  I go there for ideas before I look other places because it is easy to look through the images and open only what you are interested in.  I would say it's a time saver but we all know it isn't because there are too many great things to see there. The first card is a direct CASE with the exception of the words (I didn't want to dig out the set and made do with what I had on my desk).  I love Connie Babbert's cards.  She is one talented lady. Stamps:  Watercolor Winter, More Merry Messages CS:  Baja Breeze, WW, Pink Pirouette, Twitterpated DP Ink:  Cherry Cobbler Misc.:  Lacy Brocade EF, Designer Frames EF, XL oval punch, Aqua Painter, Dimensionals This next one I was happy to see on Pinterest because I still have this DP from last year and was happy to use more of it up.  I didn't actually pin the card but you can easily do a search and find it or go to Jen's blog .  I am a Post-It person and I jot things ...

As you know, I'm a procrastinator.  I've known for a bit that I needed to get 40 cards made to hand off so teachers and music leaders could be appreciated for what they do.  Due to it being fall (not that you can tell here in FL), I wanted to use one of my fall sets.  I just couldn't get into it.  I tried.  I'm pre-occupied with other projects and they are what I think of right now.  Some are fun and some . . . eh, not so much.  After looking for some inspiration for something easy, that wouldn't cost extra postage, that wasn't too labor intensive with cutting, I came across a card like this on Pinterest.  Ha!  Just what I needed.  I went to the blog but it didn't have colors other than a Kaleidacolor (?) and gray.  I don't have any of the Kaleidacolor stamp pads any more.  A friend kept them about 7 years ago and I really didn't care because I never really used them. I made a mask with a sheet of paper and brayered So S...

I made moussaka for dinner last night.  The recipe comes from a dear friend who is quite the cook.  A lot of years ago, she taught several of us how to make spanakopita, tzatziki and she had prepared moussaka and shared the recipe with us.  I made it in ABQ but it wasn't a hit with my family.  I thought the kids have matured with their tastes and I would give it a go again.  My husband doesn't remember it the first time around and tells me he must have been TDY.  I have one kid that doesn't eat red meat, of the three left, the twins liked it and my son didn't give it a fair try.  A recipe I enjoy but it will sit and be dusted off again in a few years. Moussaka sliced potatoes, fried (enough for single layer) 2 large eggplants, peeled and cut into 1/2" slices 2 lbs. ground beef 1C chopped onion 1 clove garlic, minced 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce 3/4C dry red wine 2T snipped parsley (or 1T dried) 1t salt 1/4t dried oregano, crushed 1/4t cin...

The twins are turning 12 this week.  One of them loves One Direction.  She has many posters on her wall of them, group and single pictures.  She has a spot reserved for one that she wants but doesn't have.  Her sister, while she likes One Direction, is into Bruno Mars and Maroon 5 but she agreed to go with a One Direction theme for the party.  Yay! Still working out some details of activities and I haven't given a thought to the cake but I thought I'd share the invite.  I found several through Google images.  I took what I like from at least 2, perhaps all 3 of the ticket style invitations and created one for them.  I hear their friends thought they were cool and one of the friends hung hers on the wall.  Off to a good start for this event.  I'm making moussaka for dinner tonight and don't you know I'm out of potatoes.  I cooked the eggplant this morning to get as much water as possible out.  My wonderful husband is ...

Congratulations Kathy!  I've already sent you an e-mail requesting your address! Kathy Stacy Collapse Wasn't sure if we leave the comment here or on yesterdays - so I'm covering my bases :) Thanks for the chance to win. 

I hope you have seen many great things.  I'm glad you stopped by my blog!     I was going to shoot for a winter theme with this hop but it was 90 degrees here today and that just isn't going to work for me.  I went with a Christmas card using one of the sentiments that you might win if you leave a comment.  See my post from Friday for details, or just leave a comment and you are automatically entered. I used Sketch Challenge 128 from OWH for this card.  I flipped it around so I could use the ornament set.  I had to make the banner slightly larger (7/8") and cut off some of the swirly to make it fit. Stamps:  Hand-Penned Holidays, Ornament Keepsakes CS:  Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Candelight Christmas DP, VV Ink:  Early Espresso Markers:  Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso Misc.:  Dimensionals, silver cording,  Have fun hopping! Click  OWH   to get back to the hop. ...

Tomorrow is World Card Making Day.  I'm participating in a hop with Operation Write Home and will have a prize for a lucky commenter.  To enter, come visit tomorrow and leave me a comment.  I will use random.org to select a winner from the comments.  I will contact you via e-mail for your address on Monday and will post the winner here for all to see. What is the prize you ask.  A very timely clear mounted stamp set from Stampin' Up! Hand-Penned Holidays Come back tomorrow, leave a comment and check out the hop.  

This little guy has had a rough couple of months.  First he ate some carpet or bedspread with the people that took care of him while we were away getting a mass in his stomach.  That required several medicines and about 6 weeks of trips to the vet for weigh-ins to be sure he was gaining weight. Last week he had an abscess tooth.  They saved the tooth by filing it and removed the abscess.  Once again, he has an antibiotic.  He was dubbed a "honey bunny" at the vet when we went to pick him up from having the packing removed. We have to put honey into the opening once a day and let it drain.  Honey being a natural remedy for the bacteria to bring it out and not allow it to grow inside for infection.  I almost feel like he is a guinea pig for this procedure but this office has been so good and attentive with him I just have to trust they know what they are doing.  I'm surprised he can eat like he does.

I found this gem of an idea on Pinterest and thought it would be a perfect little thank you for all of the teachers and leaders that work with the kids in Primary at church.  I included Scout leaders and Activity Day Leaders, which meant that I needed 36. I set out on a hunt for these cute, little 4 oz. jars.  A couple of months ago I saw a lot of them but now it was hard to find it.  After several unsuccessful trips, I ended up going 30 minutes away to another store that showed they had enough cases in stock.  Super easy to make and well received. For 8 jars, you will need:      1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened      10 pkgs. (2 oz. ea.) caramel dipping sauce      2 Skor bars or a bag of Heath toffee bits      8 apples      8 (1/2C or 4 oz.) Mason or Ball jars Mix the cream cheese with 2 of the dips.  Divide it between the 8 jars.  Clean the rim after it you smoosh i...

You aren't going to believe, it, but my Christmas card I made for this swap won a prize.  Thanks to Hunter who liked it, I ended up getting a package of Snow Festival Designer Printed Tags.  I realize I should use them for cards or packages, but I'm thinking I want to use them as little notes throughout the month thanking people for what they've done/do.  Over the past year, I notice I have gotten better about recognizing things but I don't always take that time to acknowledge.  I'll carry these with me and I'll always have something to write on and I can pass it to them as I go about my day but still be able to say "Well done!", "Congratulations", "Thanks", etc.  Bells & Boughs by Barb Baynard  Winter Memories by Barb Furlong  Ornament Keepsakes by Chris Occhipinti  No Peeking by Heidi Sorg  Evergreen by Kim Overholt  Deck the Halls by Leanna Kerr  Snow Much Fun by Mary Nunaley ...