Change is a hard thing. Especially when it involves happy memories.
My mother and I put up this border along the wooden back splash
in 1995 I think. It was cut from contact paper. I was in my
Mary Engelbreit stage. As you can see I am not a very good
decorator. Anyway, the point is that I had to remove it the other
day and that was a hard thing to do. My mom passed away in 1996
and putting up that border is one of the last things we did together. I
still miss my Mom. Somehow the world feels a little lonely without her.

as I was browsing through pictures I found this one.
It is the cake I made for Zack and Danielle's shower.
It was a test to see if I could actually make the wedding
cake. It was really tasty. I used my pound cake recipe
given to me by a neighbor of David's parents. She has been a
friend now for a long time (about 35 years) and I think of her every time
I make this recipe. Anyway the wedding cake turned out fine, but what a stress
filled day that was for me. Will I ever do that again? hmmm I don't think so but
I have had to eat my words many times. It is much more tasty to eat cake.

Isn't this adorable art. My best friend's daughter draws these playful creative little creatures. I think she should write a book and let us all in on the lives these adorable little ones live.

a morning of cooking

I got inspired to make some wheat bread.
The pictures are in reverse order. ???

More inspired cooking.
I made some biscuits and set them on
the wood stove to rise.

Here they are after baking. So yummy with
my red hot jelly and butter. Also fried
some sausage for these biscuits.

I should get up every morning at 4:30 a.m.

Here are the valentine cookies I made for my
piano students. I ate some too. If I eat
one I'll eat five. They are so tempting.

Now this snow is more like it. It was so
beautiful coming down on Friday. What a joy!

I took this picture of the tree through our back windows. So pristine.

David took this one during the storm while he was walking the dog

David and his dog Chase walking as the snow fell.

The next morning the snow was still beautiful even though it shows
evidence of the fun had by our sons and grandchildren. Four wheeler
tracks, little footprints, snowballs and even a snowman.

One of life's simple pleasures is seeing the snow piled on the trees.
This is the big cedar in front of our house.

The morning sun cast a rose colored glow on the
trees behind the house.

Christmas Card 2008

This is my hand painted card for Christmas 2008. I missed painting a card for 2009 but I hope to start working on an idea in time to get it done for Christmas 2010. A lofty goal. :)

I have had so much fun making these little recipe card holders. One has my Christmas cookie recipe on it and the other is done in a chicken theme with a Chicken casserole recipe. They could be used to send poems to the sick or shut-ins. Or they could be used to send words of encouragement or scripture. They are fast and easy.

The pleasure of a tea pot

This is an adorable little tea pot. I've had it for years and I think I got it at TJ Max's. I held it so you could see just about the size it is. (I do have big hands though) Tea Pots are another of my simple pleasures. I love to see them displayed, and even better to serve tea to my friends and family. Some friends require diet Coke in their tea pot. :) I keep a wintry looking tea pot on the wood stove through the winter so my piano students parents can enjoy a cup of hot tea while they are waiting.

Terrifying snow storm of 2010

Isn't it scary. So much snow fell on the ground!!! What would we ever do if it really snowed here. Or if we had to deal with it all winter long. At the first hint of snow the schools close and everyone runs to the store for milk and bread-as if we are going to starve in one day without a glass of milk or a slice of bread. It is fun to watch the panic though. Truthfully, if it did really snow I would not know how to drive in it. I just love it when it snows because I can cozy up in the house with a good book or a project to do and a cup of cocoa and watch it come down from the warmth of our cabin. Another one of life's simple pleasures. Have a good day!

New Beginnings

Well January is the time of year for new beginnings. I always feel like I've been given a fresh start-another chance to see if I can achieve those resolutions I keep recycling year after year. As I look back I see that I have made some improvements (if only a little). My resolutions always include losing weight (of course), getting organized and having a quiet time each morning. Each morning this week I have grabbed a cup of coffee and headed to my comfy chair to read my Bible. I use the New Century Version (a translation that is very accurate) which is written in such clear language that it is easily understood. My days have gone so well this week and I think it is because I started them out with God. Hope I will keep up the good start I've made on that resolution. 2009 was a pretty good year for organization. I'm getting better at it thanks to my friend Cindy's help. I look at a particular room that has gotten out of hand (does that happen at your house) and I think "there is no way we can make any sense of all this" but Cindy just gets in there and away we go. Before long everything is grouped together and has a place. I tell her I must seem like a "dirty rotten sinner" to her because the rooms eventually get all cluttered again and we have to do it all over again. She takes it pretty well. (Kind of like how Jesus keeps forgiving me for the same mistakes over and over. That's amazing love.) Anyway, at least now I have some organizing skills (thanks again to Cindy) and can tackle some things by myself. That is an improvement for me. YEAH!
Now about that other resolution. HMMMM I did lose weight but it found me again. So...I am going to try again by eating healthier and eating less. Here we go into a new year--I hope yours goes great for you and I wish you good things, good health and loving friends.

Things that make you go Hmmmmmm

Oh my goodness---David and I watched a movie last night called "Bark" about a lady who had a nervous breakdown and she thought she was a dog. Her only communication was barking. When her husband asked his wife's Mom, Dad and sister to come visit so he could tell them what was happening, it was obvious that her family was dysfunctional. The Dad drank the entire time, the sister was being the adult trying to wake Mom and Dad up to the seriousness of the situation and the Mom, immediately upon their arrival, began doing little water color paintings and crafts. Hmmmm....is that me. I wonder if my craftiness is bordering on dysfunctional. I wonder if my kids and friends think that is what I am all about. Things that make you go Hmmmmm.

Favorite Christmas Decorations

I think I am finally getting the hang of adding pictures. This one I took of a grand piano ornament hanging on our tree. It was given to me by one of my piano students. Above is my favorite Christmas decoration. The lamp shade spins from the heat of the little bulb. It is so cute.

Cookies with Katlynn

Katlynn loves to make cookies with Mimi. She has her own way of doing things and of course can do it "all by herself". For Christmas I gave her a cookie baking kit and a bag to keep her little rolling pin and cookie cutters in, along with sprinkles, homemade dough and the Boswell Cookie recipe. She loved it. She is so excited about baking. I love that about her.