A Little of This N' That

Fridays and My Ode To Christmas

2011-12-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

Sasha renamed Peanut or "The Nut"

Fridays are my cleaning day, which means I get dressed before noon and Peanut doesn't get unlimited cuddle time. So here's how the day sized up.

Laundry done - check
Vacuuming done - check
Kitchen appliances cleaned - check
Kitchen sink scrubbed - check (because these 2 make it look extra sparkly and clean)
Kitchen floor scrubbed - check (I could have just said Kitchen cleaned - check, but then you wouldn't really appreciate how I really knock myself out on Friday's.)
Paper work off the kitchen counter & bills paid - check
My projects organized and unnecessary things cleared from the kitchen table - check
Chistmas boxes all mailed - check (I actually did that last Friday but I just wanted you to know how awesome I am presents will arrive in time for Christmas)
Bought unhealthy snacks including the sweet rolls which are a tradition - check (emphasis on the "bought" part)
Vege tray made - check
Full of good will and Christmas cheer - check

Our Christmas Tree

The way things looked at the end of the day.

So Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Joy for the Winter Solstice and any of the great ways you might celebrate with the people you love!

The Spirit of Giving Always Finds a Way

2011-12-22T17:49:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's hard to get in the holiday spirit, especially when you're somewhat of a grinch to begin with. I read about this today and it gave me the kick I needed. Love it! Click on a link to get the scoop.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all the special people in my life!

Lawaway angels are the new holiday blessing.

Giving hearts are alive and well this season. A wave of Secret Santas are paying off lawaways, mostly at K-mart stores, across the country.

Want to hear more.... just pull up this google search.

It's All About 4 Days Of Quilting Mania

2011-09-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

Last week was the annual Utah Quilt Guild Festival with classes from beginning to those offered by the National Teachers. I can't believe I resisted going for so long. It incorporates fund raisers, humanitarian opportunities, a vendor mall, and my favorite the luncheons featuring the National Teachers. It’s interesting to hear how they started and the paths leading them to their advanced techniques. Some have a more gradual progression and others win National Competions with their 1^st quilt and sell them for $25,000 or more. It’s fun to be around lots of quilters who have the same quirks and utter devotion as you do to the art of quilting. One lady was excited another kid had moved out. That would make the 3rd room to fit all her "stuff." I didn’t feel quite as bad I had my one room & the dining room table.... and I suppose the fireplace hearth... and maybe just a wee space in my bedroom. I guess that’s getting close to 3 rooms. It just happens.

And then there's the Quilt Show. So we'll start with the good news first. The quilt I entered won 1st place in the Miniature category. I have to admit winning is really fun.

"Crossing Paths" 20" Sq. with 1,203 pieces.

Just when I’m feeling pretty good about myself, I turned the corner and saw this quilt. It is by the National Teacher, George Siciliano, http://www.georgesiciliano.com/, who specializes in miniatures. I took one of his classes and it was just amazing to learn his technique and tips. I bought a couple of his patterns and fabrics to try other designs & maybe try one of my own. His wife, Virginia is an award winning hand quilter and both have quilts in the National Quilt Museum. They teach the classes together. Ken didn't want to hear about that part.

"Dusk a l'Orange" 12 1/2" Sq., 4,210 pieces

During class he demos a 1" square made from 25 pieces. He does a coin toss & the winner gets it. That's right... it is now mine. I bought the pattern to try it myself.

I also took a class by David Taylor, http://www.davidtaylorquilts.com/ , another National Teacher who specializes in hand applique. This was much harder for me but he made me really want to practice & improve. His quilts are taken from his photographs and it is hard to tell the difference. His goat is made from hundreds of different fabrics. Each color change is a different fabric, cut out and the edges all turned under before they are stitched down. The detail is just exquisite. He then uses many, many variegated threads for the machine quilting to compliment the quilt design. (because life is too short not to use color)

"Little S'Tinker

On top of that I took 5 classes to learn how to use my EQ7 design quilt program. I was exhausted by the end of it... in the best kind of way. I can't wait for next year. (It will be in St. George)

It's Not About Perfection

2011-09-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Most of you know I keep my mom in quilting projects. We’re both equally passionate about what we create and the happiness it brings us. However, I walked over there today to find her hunched over with a ruler measuring the 9-patches she had just made and telling me quite despondantly she hadn’t done a very good job in putting them together, as she reached for the seam ripper. It broke my heart. Sure they were a little askew and didn’t quite match up to the other blocks they connected to, but she has just the tiniest bit of sight in her left eye and macular degeneration in her right eye which means she has a black spot right in her central vision. So are you kidding me, they were fabulous blocks created with a determination to keep her passion alive in spite of her limitations. I didn’t want her to lose her joy. You know Mom, I told her. Something doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. I hope I can do as well if my eyesight ever fails me.

The quest for perfection is as old as time and I have always felt it is a bit of a self- defeating behavior, but I really felt it at that moment. I finally live in a world where I’m good enough. Damn it. I’m not always picking myself apart, trying to fix all the parts that might have gone askew and don’t always match up to how I think the rest of the world wants me to be. I like my reality and think it helps me love the things I love more. And that doesn't mean I'm not willing to change or try to be all the things that make a human being good, but if it is so discouraging and I start feeling like I can never do anything good enough and it makes loving what I do less, then I'm taking my plants and making another garden.

Anyway here’s the perfect things I’ve been creating lately. Just kidding. I have had fun making some miniature quilts. They’re 12” square and now I need to add some kind of nifty border. I forgot to take a picture of the one I’m entering in the Utah Quilt Guild Show. Sally Collins is one of the National Teachers that will be giving classes at the Quilt Festival this year. She is known for her precision piecing and the awesome way she creates borders to give quilts a balanced finished look. Since I won’t be taking any of her classes, I bought her book, “Borders, Bindings, & Edges, The Art of Finishing Your Quilt”. And that is one reason why I love quilting. There is always something new to learn. It’s an art form that keeps on giving. (I think I said that once before so it must be true)

This is "Perplexed By Purple" Look at the circular geometric shapes then move your eye down and you'll see the purple & white flower.

I want to do some kind of beading on this one. On this one kind of squint and move your eye between the white spaces and then to the colored.

It's All About Staying Married

2011-07-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

Ken & I have now been married 30 years. In no special order here’s 30 reasons why:

He always gives me the biggest piece of dessert. He's like that. Generous.
He never complains when I eat the rest of the dessert in the middle of the night.
He goes to quilt shows with me (and acts interested)
He knows why it’s important not to cut off the points when you quilt and many other reasons that make a good quilt. He’s like that. Interested in what I’m doing.
He has never belittled me in front of family or friends. Or even to my face.
He likes to do all the driving.
He never lets me drive in bad weather without ample warnings. He’s like that. Concerned about my well-being.
He can always make me laugh.
He makes fun of me in humorous ways that expose my biggest flaws.
He tells me every day he loves me. (except for that rough patch in year 2)
Whenever I think life is the cruelest hoax ever he tells me everything is going to be OK. (and he hugs me when he says it)
He’s a homebody like me.
For a long time when the kids were little he cooked dinner every Saturday night to give me a break. He’s like that. Considerate.
When I did the early morning paper route he went with me every Sunday because the papers were so heavy. (for 5 years) He's like that. Dependable.
Have you seen how he looks? He’s more fit and handsome than ever.
His work ethic is flawless. He has always done his best to support the family and keep it going.
His integrity is flawless. He taught the kids about striving for excellence and a multitude of other ways to be a decent human being.
We work well together. He has always done his share of the household chores and more often than not more than his share.
Every week we go to the grocery store together and then he helps me cut up all the veges for the upcoming meals.
He never complains if sometimes those well planned out meals turn into cheese sandwiches or top ramen because I’ve been working on my projects all day.
He always cleans up after dinner and does the dishes.
He makes me feel cherished.
He never complains about all the birthday and Christmas presents I buy for myself.
Sometimes he seems too good to be true. I think he is.
Once he surprised me at the airport and went with me to visit Mackenzie when I thought I had to go alone. He’s like that. He never lets me go to important things alone.
In the beginning he told me in 30 years being together would be better than ever. He didn’t lie.
On our 2^nd date he bought me groceries when I thought I was just giving him ideas of meals he could make for himself. He’s like that. Helpful without being invasive.
We had to stay together. Neither one of us wanted custody of the kids.
We’re interdependent and individuals at the same time. He’s like that. Respectful.
He’s my best friend.

And bonus videos from Miko the wonder puppy whose talents just keep increasing.

It's All About The Quilts

2011-07-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to a Quilt Exhibit in Brigham City. The featured quilt artists were Lenore Crawford, http://www.lenorecrawford.com/ who gets most of her inspiration on her visits to small villages in France. Dianna Grundhauser of Hawaii, http://www.quiltingspirit.com/artist-statement.asp, and Melody Randol of Loveland, CO, http://melodyquilts.com/ And a few from Utah. All I can say is every quilt had the WOW factor, and most had won national & international awards. Also many had placed in the prestigious Paducah competitions. The main focus was landscape and applique quilting. Here's a few of my favorites, and I have to say seeing them in photos is a poor substitute for the real thing. I've also included a close up of most of them so you can see some of the incredible detail and intricate free motion quilting.

Kathy Porter (from my quilt group) and I were asked to show a quilt.
You've all seen mine so here is hers. She's always winning awards for
her stunning & original designs. This is from some doodles she likes to do.

My favorite

Miko - The Puppy Prodigy

2011-07-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

I just had to post another video. I can't believe how smart she is. Ryan said she'll just approach them and then sit, lie down, roll over a couple of times and then look up expectantly for a treat . . . . before they even say a single word. Too cute.

It's All About Miko

2011-07-03T08:47:00.001-07:00

Here she is. The much awaited puppy of Ryan & Alissa. A little Yorkshire Terrior. And I do mean little. She is 12 weeks old and weighs in at a whopping 2.5 lbs. She is just too adorable!!

A week later she miraculously turns from a baby into a toddler and enjoys a day out at the beach. Get ready for a cuteness attack. Ryan is having a blast with her, as this is his first dog. We're glad we deprived him of a few childhood experiences so he could have a few happy new firsts in his adult life. :)

Meeting Trixie, the emperess of the house, for the first time, hoping they will be fast friends.

It doesn't take long and they are snuggling together. Sweetness attack.

She sleeps in a playpen to give her plenty of room to move over, as her bladder is too tiny to make it through the night.

I'm happy she loves her blanket I made for her.

Misty & New Baby, Parker

2011-06-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

Misty was in town for a new baby checkup and stopped by. It is always good to see her. She didn't have the two older boys with her... as if they are very old. I love to just watch them... they are really too funny. It sure reminds you what a crazy time of life it is to have toddlers. Any kid at any age at home, really.

He was content to let Gma2 hold him.

I made him an "I Spy" quilt with a bunch of picture fabric that I've collected over the years.

It's All About The Yard

2011-06-19T15:39:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we did what most couples do who have been married for awhile. We went out and bought something we would have bought anyway and said it was for Father's Day. Ken has been mostly in charge of the yard... ok, everything except watering the hanging basket out front. This year I finally missed going and picking out flowers and playing in the dirt. We are trying to fill the yard with perinnials and eventually have everything all lush and beautiful, and doing it by itself every year.

Our front is small... (just our size) On one side we found a big hanging basket and put it in the corner where nothing ever grows.

On the other side we made a little herb garden... we have basil, oregano, 4 different mints, echineacea, comfry, and a few more I can't remember

I love the hanging basket we found for the front entrance... we went to every nursery until we found the most beautiful one...

This is the area we planted in the back. It sure didn't feel like $300 worth of lushness once it was planted. I'll post another picture when that happens...

We even bought a couple of chairs and a little table. You can't tell but it is inlaid with a bunch of tiny tiles. The chairs are just perfect.... simple (without big bulky cushions) but they still rock and swivel. Ken was a very good dad this year..... as always...

Miko

2011-05-23T18:38:00.000-07:00

I finally completed something start to finish. Ryan & Alissa are getting a puppy so of course it has to have it's own blanket. Just so you get the right perspective.... the puppy is in the "Let's Play" position.... with it's front paws down and bottom up.

I wish somebody could give me some magical tips on how to get a good tension. I spent more time fiddling with that than the time I spent quilting it...

Much Ado About Everything

2011-05-14T19:58:00.000-07:00

April, yes way back then, started out with quite a rocky patch... sadly Ken's mother passed away... and the only upside to these events is that we got to be with our kids (& Kenzie) The "girls" have asked me to make them quilts from some of their mother's clothes, which I am very honored and excited to do for them. Quilts are so much more than fabric to keep you warm... I
hope what I make will envoke all the love, warmth, and security they felt with her.

All of our family with Grandpa Joe

Ken & his dad.... two kindrid spirits...

Kenzie & I fit in a sewing lesson. She wanted to make an "art quilt" so she could give it to me to enter in my competitions. She had no doubts I would then be presenting her with several blue ribbons. I love the confidence in that girl!!

.............................ANDREA GRADUATES....................................

At the end of April Andrea graduated from Utah Valley University in the Behavioral Sciences Social Work and Criminal Justice Program. I'm so proud of her... she gives new meaning to the phrase, "You've come a long way, baby." Now on to grad school...

While she was graduating I had surgery on my left eye to repair a tear in my retina and hemorrhaging from my optic nerve. All went well, and just about the time it was going to be ok to get back on the tread mill, I got an 8 day killer flu.... you know the kind that feels like it's eating your bones?.... see why I don't excercise.... stuff like that always happens....

I'm so ready to be back in my routine.... going to quilting.... having 10 or so projects I'm working on and making a general mess...

Two Favorites

2011-03-31T17:02:00.001-07:00

These have become my favorite lunch or dinner and breakfast or bedtime snack...

Mediterranean Salad

Produce: 1 cup romaine lettuce, 1/4 c. tomato, 1/2 c. fresh steamed green beans, 1/4 c. red onion (steamed with the green beans)

Whole Grain: 1/2 c. sweet corn, or frozen & thawed, or kernels sliced from 1 med. ear of fresh roasted corn (I use the frozen)

Lean protein: 1/2 c. black beans

Plant-based Fat: 1/4 c. avocado

Seasoning: 1 T. red wine vinegar, 1 t. Italian herb seasoning mix, & 1/2 t. grapefruit zest (I can never make this taste good so I use 1 T. Zesty Fat Free Italian Dressing)

Banana Treat

Produce: 1/2 banana sliced

Whole Grain: 1 Wasa Sourdough Crispbread Cracker

Lean Protein: 1/4 c. fat-free Ricotta Cheese (I've only been using 2 T.)

Plant-based Fat: 9 hazelnuts crushed (Mix with Ricotta Cheese & vanilla)

Seasoning: 1/2 t. pure vanilla

Both meals only take minutes to throw together and are so delicious!

Down 10 lbs. and I've never eaten so well and been less hungry.

Artwork Derailed

2011-03-19T15:58:00.001-07:00

My artwork has been derailed by my quest to have a healthier life and lose, (cough, cough) lbs.

In the immortal words of Canyon, I have found the eating plan I've been waiting my whole life for. Four meals a day are planned according to meal timing, portions, combinations of foods and food quality. It's a lot how we're eating already except I won't be eating ALL the leftover cake, pie, dessert or any other sugary thing I can get my hands on... and yikes, I have even given up my diet coke and most processed foods... I was partially eating the right foods, just not in the right combinations or portions.

The 1st meal is eaten within an hour of waking up and the rest are spaced 3-5 hrs. apart.

Each meal is constructed from 5 pieces: 1. Produce 2. a whole grain 3. lean protein 4. plant-based fat 5. seasonings It sounds like tons of work but the format of the book makes it easy to understand and put together. It does help to do a bit of preparation so Sunday morning is our time to go to the grocery store (with a well-planned list) & then we come home & cut up all the veges we'll be using that week. Knowing what I'll make each day, and having it already partially prepared totally cuts out all the binge eating I do before I can get the meal made.

It goes like this:

Stuffed Red or Green Bell Peppers

Produce: 1 whole red or green pepper, 1/4 c. chopped red onion, 3/4 c. diced zuchinni

Whole grain: 1/2 cup cooked wild rice

Lean protein: 1/3 cup Quorn crumbles (extra lean turkey if you're not a vegetarian)

Plant-based fat: 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Seasonings: 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon herb seasoning

Cut the top off the pepper and remove the seeds & membranes. Saute the onions, zuchinni, and seasonings in the olive oil until tender. Mix in the rice and crumbles. Fill the peppers and cover with foil. Bake at 350 for 25 min. or 45 minutes to an hour if you're cooking more than one.

I started this 2 weeks ago and I'm happy to say I've practically lost all of my sweet cravings and no longer raid the refrigerator at midnight of every possible leftover that Andrea hasn't eaten already AND I've lost 4 lbs. I'm having a lot of fun with it by putting all my foods in an online calorie counter (although you don't count calories... but it also keeps track of all the foods nutrients.... fats, sugars, protein, etc.) http://www.everydayhealth.com After each meal I eat I can see how my nutrients break down & how much over & under I am on my daily allowance. I don't think of this as a big time waster, but more of educating myself on how to maximize my ability to make healthier choices.

Tree Swap

2011-03-01T12:08:00.001-08:00

These are the cards I received back from the tree swap. All so different... I love them all...

"Tree of Splendor 4" by Kathy of Las Vegas

"Pine Tree" by Elaine of New Zealand

"Pine Tree" by Rhonda of California

"Daytime Moon" by Pam of Washington

"Tree of Life-Abundance" by Margaret of Arizona

"Tree #3 by Audrey

11 X 14 Trade

2011-02-07T13:19:00.000-08:00

Dana (who was my Secret Santa) & I decided to do a larger tree art trade... This is the one she did for me. She used Shin Han professional artist watercolors and graphite on Canson Rough 120lb watercolor paper. My request was for an old, kind, wise tree so it has irises (which are a flower representing wisdom), and uses the symbolism of the Hermit Tarot Card (who carries a lantern).

Dana wanted a blue, purple & green tree. We are learning a series of ruched flowers in quilt group this year so I embellished it with small 3-dimensional ruched & beaded flowers.

By Light Of The Moon Swap

2011-01-12T16:06:00.000-08:00

"Midnight Magic"

"Meadow Moon"

"Forest Moon"

Getting ready to mail off the last of the cards for this year's swaps so far.... I almost cancelled out of this one.... I was kind of tapped out after the tree cards, but I'm glad I pushed through and did them. I'm excited now to get started on my tree next week...

Tree Swap & Journal Quilt Challenge

2011-01-09T17:49:00.000-08:00

I just finished the last of my trees for the next swap..

I'm also doing a Journal Quilts Challenge this year and for my theme I am doing an 11X14 tree every month. We then post it to the 3Creative Studios Journal Quilts Flickr Group. where other art quilters can offer feedback. I'm finding that joining these challenges keeps me thinking creatively and everyone's work is so inspiring. I've finished drawing the design for my January tree and had a fun shopping trip to Quilts Etc. to pick out my fabric pallet.... and now I'm waiting for the purple sequins and beads to arrive that I ordered for embellishments. The bottom of the drawing looks like boulders but I will use the green fabric there and I think add some blue with watercolor pencils to the purple sky. The brown fabric has a great circular pattern for the tree trunk.

Secret Santa Arrived

2010-12-29T16:20:00.000-08:00

Madame Butterfly - picture doesn't do it justice

Angel Cards w/Embossed Envelopes - picture doesn't do them justice as well

Tree Amulet made from silk fusion.... so awesome!!

I was so excited to get my package from Ang on Monday.... I swear this is true.... I know I heard angels singing the Hallelujah Chorus and the path to the mailbox was paved in gold. I slowly opened the mailbox and 10 lords came out leaping, butterflies on their heels... and there on a silk pillow was my box... I knew it would be worth the wait.

I quickly opened everything and ran to get my camera, when the new TV installer said, "Your internet is unhooked but someone will be out on Wed. afternoon to install it... WHAT???? Three days without the internet.... they might as well run off with my firstborn son.... it has been painful....

But on to happier things... Madame Butterfly is just beautiful. My bedroom is Asian with an emphasis on purple. I have the perfect spot to hang it there. The angel cards are far too beautiful to use and those I'm going to triple mat & frame to go in another perfect spot. And then there's the tree amulet... I have ALWAYS wanted one of those and I love that it's a tree!! And, yes, I have the perfect spot for it as well. It's as if Ang knew all the bare spots in my house that could use some good art. She also included another set of notecards.... some tiny seed beads.... a pkg. of ATC protectors and some yummy chocolate from Canada... THANKS Ang.... you were a perfect Secret Santa giver....

Secret Santa at IllustratedATC's

2010-12-22T14:09:00.000-08:00

Now that my person has opened her present from me, I can post what I made. The wallhanging is made from patterns in the book, Spellbinding Quilts, by Maaike Bakker, using a paper piecing technique. It's embellished with various beads, sequins, cotton & metallic threads, and Swarovski crystals. I also made a 4-way ATC that makes a tree... Then a package with silk cocoons & rods, & other silk fibers. I'm still waiting for my present to arrive.... I have a suspicion it is tied up in customs somewhere.... This was such a fun thing to do.... everybody has been posting their presents as they arrive and it is fun to see people's art in larger sizes. Alot of awesome stuff! The most exciting thing, however, is Dana & I are going to do another trade of larger art so I can have some of her art... she creates the most awesome trees.... Links to her website: http://www.artistic-journey.com/ and http://artisticjourneys.blogspot.com/ Scroll down on her blog to see some of her trees... she has also designed a set of Tree Tarot Cards.

Actually Finished A Quilt Top

2010-12-18T14:28:00.001-08:00

I just finished this. It is my favorite kind of quilt to make.... a lap quilt that is just right to cuddle in but still looks good on the couch. This might look like it takes a little bit of skill but it is only made from 6 1/2" squares and half-square triangles... it is 60 X 72.

Fun Mail Day!

2010-12-09T17:34:00.001-08:00

Mine - "Skull In Stitches" ............. From - Martha in Maryland
This trade was the November Match. The background for Martha's tree is from melted crayon. That is kinda her specialty.... you would never guess that's what it is looking at it.... but it is so vibrant and beautiful... I am starting to accumulate an interesting tree collection...

Mine - "Standing Vigil" " ........... "Aura" - From Randi in Nashville

Randi and I have traded before. I made this tree for the Tree swap but made another one for Randi when she wanted it... I know, I'm one of those awesome accomodating people...

Mine - "Pear Tree" traded for...

"Mists Of Dawn" from Kari (pear blossom gallery) in Oregon

This card is even more outstanding irl... I'm going to get a frame for it...

With her card Kari also sent me some fun "stuff" I got so excited over it all as it is all things suited perfectly for me from someone who doesn't "know" me... some awesome little peices of fabric, beads and other embellishments and all the detail of the tree & house are paper pieced on a 1 3/4" square.... amazing... and it is just flawlessly done...

Quilt Group Christmas Party

2010-12-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

I just love my quilt group!! There are 30 of us and 18 made it to the party. I must say I was happy to pass on the Presidental duties to Judie... I have never liked being the one in charge of things.... or as Ken says it... I would much rather be in charge of the one who's in charge. I guess he doesn't like it when I can think of ways to do what he wants to do so much better. I guess he also thinks he's in charge.

Next year is starting out smashing... we all picked secret pals to give some kind of gift to each month at our luncheon. Jacque is also going to teach a series of applique classes which I'm really excited about. The collective creativity of our group is electric.... it would be best not to stand under any trees each Thurs. of the week.

We do a gift exchange and I just love my present. It is a holder with 36 different thread colors. It is handy to have when you are doing handwork.... instead of trying to gather all different, bigger spools of thread.... it's all right there ready to throw in a bag... and you're good to go. Kathie always makes hot pad holders which are just perfect for taking things out of the microwave and holding the hot dishes while you eat... watching TV. My dining table is for my many varied projects.

Free Motion Embroidery

2010-11-14T13:32:00.000-08:00

I checked out this awesome book on free motion embroidery at the library this week. Not only are the images in it amazing... my sewing machine is made to do this kind of stuff.... I decided I better get some of my money's worth out of my toy that cost more than alot of used cars.

Can you believe this ocean scene is made from thread??

It also has ways of making different trees, which I really love doing so I've set aside some time every day to practice some of these techniques. So far the only thing I've really learned is that it takes ALOT of thread to make them. I could see my little shoebox of thread I inherited from mom rapidly disappearing. So not being one to deny myself much of anything I really want.... I called Melissa to see if she had any thread left from the store closing. She did.... so I took some of my carefully guarded quilt money and splurged on every color of thread she had. Now for the fun part... organizing it all and breathing in all that beautiful color...

The first atc I tried making was an underwater scene. It took me all day but it was alot of fun. I traded it to Julie, from Texas, for one of her dragons and she even worked a tree into it. I just love accomodating people.

Rainbow Swap Done!

2010-11-09T17:52:00.001-08:00

I finished up the final 6 cards to the rainbow swap. The hardest one for me to do was the indigo (Celtic Heart) It was difficult to show a design since the fabric was so dark. I ended up highlighting the heart with a white watercolor pencil.... it gave the darker shades of the fabric an almost bronzed look. Next I'm working on a series of trees... along with organizing my project room so I can get a new quilt in the works.... I've loved making the ATC's... they are quite addicting but I really miss the quilting.... I'm afraid I'll forget how and I won't progress the way I want to with them. Such delemias... have I mentioned how much I love my life?

S
"Purple Realm"

"Celtic Heart"

"Chameleon"

"Sparkle Clouds" I know I'm real original with the names.

"Yellow Vine"

"Rainbow Speak" Or I suppose it could be called "Rainbow Vomit"

Halloween-Art-A-Thon

2010-11-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a frenzy of trading on IllustradedATC's. I'm not a big holiday person so it was a bit of a departure for me. I wasn't going to participate but then there was so much great art, I had to join in but only had time to make 3 cards. I'll know better next year, but I was very happy with my 3 trades and I met a few new people that we will do some trades down the road...

Mine - "Halloween Love" I added some tiny flowers on the grass and by the fence but forgot to take a picture of it. Traded for "A Perfect Stranger by Myrthe of the Netherlands.

"A Perfect Stranger"

Mine - "Touley's Owl" I knew she collected owls so I made this one just to see if she would ask me to trade. My experiment worked. :) She made me the Canadian Geese. They reminded me of the Geese that would fly overhead in Colorado, their songs trailing behind them. It always made me feel like all was well in the world.

"Anticipation of Spring"

Mine - "Hanging In There" traded to Margaret of Arizona. We have done a few trades before and it is always a treat to get one of her cards. All of her cards could be titled "Magic In The Air"

"Magic In The Air"

More Great Art Received

2010-09-25T13:40:00.001-07:00

"Horses In Green & Gold" from Elaine in New Zealand

"Cabotin" by Luci from Canada

"Grape Vine" by Myrthe from the Netherlands

"Goldy Locks" another one from Myrthe

"Cherry Blossoms" by Sabrina of Canada

California Here We Come

2010-09-15T18:27:00.001-07:00

I started the gathering process of getting ready for our trip on Friday. It's the first time the entire family has been together in 2 years. Tyler and family will be here Thursday so we can make the drive together. (I have what I HOPE is a fun activity book for Mackenzie to keep herself amused.) But let's get to the good stuff. My favorite is the Recycle... Save the Earth bags for the kids. Inside are little presents they can do by themselves since we will get there late afternoon. Puzzles.... necklaces to make..... books..... painting on a wood picture..... and their extra special "Bedtime Story Quilts" since both Canyon & Mackenzie will be learning to read this year.

For later there are wooden picture frames to paint and embellish and I plan on taking some fab pictures to put in them..... t-shirts to decorate with puffy paint.... a wooden crocodile, dinosaur, & snake to paint and be a part of the grand finale..... the castle we will make out of popsicle sticks. That was Canyon's idea and he reminds me everytime I talk to him that I will be bringing the popsicle sticks. (the cardboard tubes on the end of the couch will make great towers) I've been perusing the internet for ideas and I'm sure we'll come up with something real fab!! (And I've toned it down this year) Let the good times roll....

We will have a mecca of books. My brother who is a 2nd grade teacher is trading me books for a "Betime Story Quilt" for his two grandsons. It will be just like Christmas.

Marshall gave me his t-shirts from some of the competitions he has been in and I put them together to make him a quilt. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

Rainbow Project

2010-09-04T19:56:00.001-07:00

I joined a three-part rainbow swap. Each swap is a monochromatic piece in three different colors. By the time 6 months is up I'll have 9 cards in the colors of the rainbow. I really liked working with just one color....

"The Best Of the Garden"

"Two Orange Flowers"

(that's my original name, Brenda. It

took me hours to think of)

"A Rose Is A Rose"

I did this one where you are assigned a partner and then you make them a card based on their profile. We mutually decided to trade trees. She collects earth women so I "tried" to make her a tree in an earth woman's domain. I made it with batik fabric, wool fibers, linen thread, and then did some beading. These themed swaps are making my right brain muscles sore, but it is fun stretching their boundaries.

Abbey - Our Vegetarian Dog

2010-08-26T15:51:00.002-07:00

So, we have had our little (or not so little) punkin' pie on a diet for the past 6 months. She has lost 10 lbs. Notice her new sleeker hips... We now get to add a cup of any type of vegetable every day. She is dog happy. She loves broccoli and cauliflower, green beans, potatoes, even lettuce and anything else you can imagine.

Every afternoon she gets her special treat of 4 baby carrots which is good for her teeth. When the vet told us, I thought.... no way is she going to eat those. (uncooked) But there you have it... she thinks they are awesome & yummy. We are so proud of our vegetarian dog, who took up the life style without any urging from us.... Way to go, Abbey.

Art Recieved

2010-08-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

I am starting to recieve some awesome art from the new website I'm trading at most of the time now. http://www.illustratedatcs.com/

"Looking Up" by Sharon in Canada.

She is another fiber artist. This is felted and free motion quilted. It was really fun to trade with someone who does similar things. There aren't very many of us.

"Nautilus 117" by Karen in Las Vegas, NV

She has won all sorts of awards for her art, including Artist of the Year and has clients such as Michael Jackson and Playboy. You can see more of her art at http://www.ArtWanted.com/KMS

"Pathway" by Janet of the United Kingdom. I love nature & landscapes

"Canyonlands Sunrise"

These next two are by Margaret of Arizona. You can check out her blog at http://waterblossoms.blogspot.com/ to see links to some of her other art. She's amazing and

every day posts some kind of art and a Zen type inspiring thought.

"Tuscan Sun"

"Ouster"

"Sticking One's Neck Out" I love this. How many times do you get your neck stuck in a noose by doing this.

These next three are by Cynthia of Kansas. You can see more of her art from links on her blog. http://couchart.livejournal.com/ She has a very unique and creative style.

Newest ATC's

2010-08-06T14:24:00.001-07:00

"Flower for Ms. Garbo"

"A Winter's Day"

"Ms. Coy"

"Starting Over - Again"

I'm thinking about enlarging some of these to an 8X10 size....

After 29 years....

2010-07-29T12:24:00.000-07:00

This is how it goes folks.

Last night we were watching So You Think You Can Dance..... Ken is icing his hamstring and I'm doing some handwork. I ran downstairs to get something and he hollered.... "where are you going?" "I'll be right back," I said. Coming up the stairs I said..... "Do you just want me by you all the time?"

"No, I just wanted to know if you'd turn off that light."

My Way Of Staving Off Boredom

2010-07-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

These are some of the ATC's I've been making lately. I like to work on them on a lazy Sunday.

These are a few I sent to an International ATC show in Portland, Maine. If you want.... at the end of the show they will trade them out for you..... matching quantity and trying to match quality. It will be interesting to see the returns. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123438711014449&index=1

Artist Trading Cards

2010-06-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

I always have the best intentions of updating this every week, but somehow it never seems to happen.

I have been captivated this year by ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) They are miniature works of art, 2 1/2" X 3 1/2". The way you get them is to trade.... they cannot be bought or sold. This new art culture sprang up in 1996 from rejecting the notion of critiquing and pricing art. Swiss artist Vanci Stirnemann started the movement, inspired by sports trading cards.... he created and showcased over a thousand Artist Trading Cards in a gallery in Zurich, Switzerland. He refused to sell the cards but offered to swap with anyone who brought in a card. A movement was born which eventually circled the globe. There are many internet trading sites.

They are made from almost any art venue.... drawing, pen & ink, water color, acrylics, oil, collage, paper and fibre arts. I have made all of mine with fabric. After I made my "Spirit" or "I See Dead People Quilt" as Andrea calls it.... I wasn't satisfied with just sewing a quilt.... though I still love it.... I just wanted to add more to it. This little size makes that much more practical and allows me to feed my embellishment addiction. I'll post some of what I have made next week (maybe) but I got my best cards yet, yesterday....

"The Boys" and I decided we would trade cards only make them 5 X 7. I sent them bunches of "stuff" to create with.... glitter glue, buttons, beads, seashells, fancy paper, glue.... Canyon decided our first theme.... FANCY CARS. Next month we'll have Mackenzie join us and Auggie will pick our theme. I think these is such a fun way to connect the cousins and grow some creativity. There is a unique and precious quality of children's art that can't be duplicated.

Canyon's to me

Auggie's to me

For Canyon.... "Off To The Beach"

For Auggie.... "Off To The Races"

Colorado Rocky Mountain High

2010-05-14T11:27:00.000-07:00

So it has been a month or two.... we finally did something noteworthy and took a visit to see Mackenzie & her mom & dad. She was so cute when she first saw us.... she ran and leaped into Annie's arms giggling & smiling. It was like a scence out of a movie.

The main event was getting to watch Mackenzie play soccer. She has down all the right moves, from throwing the ball back in.... to being one kick away from it going down the field. Tyler's job as coach is to run down the field with them yelling encouragement and reminding them to kick the ball. For one team, (she played 2 games) without their coach, he did it for both teams. That was fun to watch. His other job is to field questions about.... when is it halftime.... when do we get to do the tunnel.... do we get a treat.... is the game over now?

Of course I brought presents.... which were projects we could do everyday. There's nothing that girl can't do. Every time I took her picture doing something, she would say, "Make sure you show this to Canyon." The last time we were all together, he called her a baby and I think she wants him to know she isn't one anymore.

Ken & I even worked in a quilt show. I'm sure Ken came along because he was sure I wouldn't be able to find my way back. I might have...... eventually. He is the best husband ever, though when it came time for me to puruse the vendors in my search for treasures I can't get in the quilt stores.... he pulled out his Suduko book while I wandered.

We had a great time.... Tyler & Lindsay's house is the part of the Goldilock's story where they say, "..... and it was just right." Ken helped Tyler with some yard and house projects. Annie & I did projects with Kenzie & and it seems made dozens of trips to the store... Annie had to drive beacause of course I can't find my way home, poor Lindsay worked (but we loved the time we did get to see her.... she is an amazing woman.... we just love her.)

Box of the Month

2010-01-23T09:12:00.001-08:00

This is not a New Year's Resolution... since most of you know I am fundamentaling against them and almost any quest for perfection. I have simply been musing of ways I can stay close to the grandkids since seeing them only once or twice a year doesn't seem like enough.

This month I made them books they can have their parents help them write what the best part of the day was for them. Then the rest of the "stuff" they can use to decorate it up. Hopefully I can read all about it when I visit next. Looks like this may be a gift for the parents. No pressure, but there better be something in those books, damn it.

So It's Been Awhile

2009-12-21T08:07:00.000-08:00

Nothing in my world changes at a fast pace.... however I have been busy. Most of you know, my mom fell and fractured her pelvis..... again..... this time in the front and back and had to have surgery, but is now back at the Berkshire rehab recuperating. I have been trying to finish up alot of my projects, and all of mom's as well, so I can start out the new year a little fresher.

We... ok, Ken..... hung up some of my wallhangings I did. This one is over the piano and the pattern is called a bargello. We still have a couple more to do.

We got a dress-up doll for Kenzie for Christmas.... so I have been making little outfits. I hope she likes it cause I want to make it more clothes.... it was so fun.

Pacific International Quilt Festival

2009-10-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

We just returned home from California and I'm happy to announce I won the blue ribbon for the Best Use of Embellishment on a Traditional Quilt. It is really fun to win things..... I'm not that accustumed to it. On the way home it felt like I had had a magical little quilt moment and now I would go home and do my regular quilts. Ken did an amazing job of keeping me company at the fair and offering thoughtful comments on all the quilts. However, he did have to call it a day when I said I was going to look at the vendors for things I just couldn't live without. He went to the motel and played his guitar. The other bonus of the weekend is Ryan flew up and spent the day with us on Sat. It was really, really good to see him.

The other pictures are a few of my favorite from the show....

You can't see it on here but the whole thing was quilted with a gold metallic tread.

This is the one I voted for..... for viewer's choice

Fall Retreat

2009-10-14T08:51:00.001-07:00

Last week my quilt group had a fall retreat at Brenda's house. For 3 days we get together and sew, laugh, learn something new and basically make fun of each other. It is a great group that I have learned so much from, and amazingly with 30 members we have no drama among us.

This is a Mexican Star pattern that Yvonne taught us.

This afternoon Ken and I are leaving for Santa Clara, CA for the Pacific International Quilt Competition where my spirit quilt was juried into their show. I don't know how excited Ken is, but I can't wait to see all the quilts and visit all the vendors with cool stuff I just can't live without. The bonus of the trip is Ryan is flying up on Saturday to spend the day. That should be alot of fun.

2009-09-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to the Utah Quilt Guild Quilt Festival and had so much fun. I took a couple of classes, attended luncheon lectures by the National Teachers, enjoyed the company of tons of people with our common interest..... got to be with lots of members of my quilt group. I will definetly go again. I'm hooked.

The bonus of the week is I won 1st place in my category of special effects. And when I was leaving I saw Melody Crust (the national teacher expert of embellishing) who is totally intimidating and unapproachable..... so I mustered all my courage and asked her if I could make an appointment for her to look at my quilt and give me feedback. Long story short..... I spent about 45 minutes with her and Paula Nadelstern giving me good ideas of how to improve it for the next show it is going to.

I love quilting.

Happy Birthday, Ken!!

2009-09-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

Ken announced, starting today, this year was going to be all about him. Heaven knows he deserves it. However, Annie and I have been basking in the sunlight for so many years, I'm not sure the rays can glow in a different direction. I don't know what brought this on.... I suspect the previous pictures had something to do with it. But wait.... I hope that doesn't mean he won't do the vacuuming.... clean up after dinner.... share his candy bars.... or remember to water the plant out front because I always forget. So at least for today..... this is your day. Happy Birthday!!

Getting Caught Up

2009-08-31T13:47:00.001-07:00

I'm trying to get a few of the things that I like, quilted and done. If only I could stay cleaned up. This is a quilt I did for the table. It was a technique we learned at my quilt groups spring retreat. And now it's almost time for our fall one. I even cleared off the table and bought a pedestal candle, so it would look like a grown-up house.

And here it is today. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to keep my quilting projects in one room. I hate being in my quilt room downstairs all the time, especially when Ken is home. I like to listen to him play his quitar while I sew. Don't you think that's a noble enough reason to excuse me from keeping things all neat and tidy?

"Spirits Having A Human Experience"

2009-08-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

I have finally finished a quilt I've been working on for 2 years. It is a depiction of a near death experience I had in 1991. I'm sure I'll still be tweeking with a few hairbows and such...

Kim's amazing ability to put form to a concept just unified the whole quilt. I love the rocky path we sometimes travel on in life.

The little Island Seas dude in blue with his dreadlocks is one of my favorite. I've worked on this for so long they all seem like people I have grown to know. Can you say I have no life????

The awesome guy in blue has a hairstyle fashioned on the doo's of Canyon & Auggie. Kenzie girl is the one in pink on the picture above this one.... and I got to style her hair any way I wanted...

2009-08-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

I guess I better post about our week with Mackenzie before another week goes by. She declared her terms of visitation right up front. She would not be taking any pictures (I got just a few) since she had to take soooo..... many during the wedding. She also would not be doing her hair....because Mom & Dad make her beautiful every day and she needed a break from being beautiful. So we pretty much honored her requests since we were only going to be in Gma & Gpa mode.

Keatley came down for the week and really helped our week be a pleasant one. She came over at about 9:00 in the morning and stayed until she couldn't take it anymore..... really she was wonderful and we really appreciated all the games she played with Kenzie. I loved Keatley more every morning when I heard Kenzie say..... let's play hide n' seek. Much as I love that girl, I can only take about 5 minutes of that game and she can play for an hour.

She just loves Abbey & I was amazed at how patient Abbey was with her. She considers her another cousin.

The girls had fun cooking. One night they made their own pizza's. And made chocolate chip cookies. Notice the hair in all the pictures.

Some of the other highlights of the week were jumping at the Kangaroo Zoo...... Uncle Paul hosted a campout at his house. They cooked hot dogs in the firepit, went on a hike to the waterfall, and slept in the tent trailer and went swimming at Lindon's new pool with Erica. What fun times. It is really a bonus in life to have a brother that loves kids. Thanks, Paul.

The Wedding

2009-07-20T08:57:00.000-07:00

We just got home from Maine..... where Tyler & Lindsay had their wedding. Lindsay gave new meaning to the phrase, beautiful bride. We enjoyed meeting all of her family and especially love having Lindsay as a part of our family.... she brings out the best in little miss kenziken, who just loves her mommy. Who ever dreamed that when Tyler moved alone to Maine with a bed and a TV he would return home with a family. You did good, son.

Kenzie was the perfect little flower girl and did a good job throwing out one petal at a time, even though she was "so nervous"

Ryan and Tyler. Ryan was his best man... and has been his best brother for all of his life. It was so nice to have all of our kids together.

Jana and Andrea.... beautiful sisters. As Mackenzie told Jana.... your eyes are all shiny, it makes you beautiful.

Ryan & Alissa..... just newlyweds themselves.

We all slept the day after on the way home. We will have Mackenzie for the week while Tyler and Lindsay honeymoon in the Florida Keyes.

Round Robin

2009-07-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

This year our quilt group did a Round Robin. We had groups of five. Each person brought a quilt block that is the center..... then each month, each block would rotate to a different person who put a border around it. In five months we had then put a border on each block and we had a finished project. Most of them were wall hanging size, but some of them were a little bigger. For mine I printed out one of my favorite sayings and put just a black border around it. It was amazing how creative everyone was and I loved how mine turned out. I'm going to have Kim do some fancy quilting on it and then I'm going to frame it.

One Must Learn To Love
One must learn to love. -- This is what happens to us in music. First one has to learn to hear a figure and melody at all, to detect and distinguish it, to isolate it and delimit it as a separate life. Then it requires some exertion and good will to tolerate it in spite of its strangeness, to be patient with its appearance and expression, and kindhearted about its oddity. Finally there comes a moment when we are used to it, when we wait for it, when we sense that we should miss it if it were missing: and now it continues to compel and enchant us relentlessly until we have become its humble and enraptured lovers who desire nothing better from the world than it and only it.

But that is what happens to us not only in music. That is how we have learned to love all things that we now love. In the end we are always rewarded for our good will, our patience, fairmindedness, and gentleness with what is strange: gradually, it sheds its veil and turns out to be a new and indescribable beauty. That is its thanks for our hospitality. Even those who love themselves will have learned it in this way; for there is no other way. Love, too, has to be learned.
-– Friedrich Nietzsche

Annie & Abbey at Silverlake

2009-06-16T16:14:00.000-07:00

Since I hardly ever go out and have fun.... and Annie never updates her blog..... I will live vicariously through her and post her updates. Today her and Abbey hiked to Silver Lake above Tibble Resevoir. She said they had the trail all to themselves..... and when she got to the top she had a message for the member of our family who should have been a meteroligist and maybe was one in a previous life.... he has prevented all of us from getting frostbite in blinding snowstorms..... perishing in hailstorms.... drowning in tsunamis... and in general, been around to update us every hour on the hour about what mother nature has in store for us next.

One happy dog...

Morning Glory Muffins

2009-06-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

So Grandma has been talking to me all week about this great muffin recipe she got from Barbara and how I should make some.... yeah, yeah, I will. But apparently I didn't do it soon enough because yesterday she went to the store and got all of the ingredients..... and when Ken took her coffee this morning she told him about these awesome muffins I was going to make. Ken came home and told me.... it looks like you're making muffins today. And so I did. If any of you are persistant and stick with something until you get or achieve it.... you need wonder no longer.... it is Grandma Porter Erickson trait. Love ya, mom.

Morning Glory Muffins
Mix together:
1 Cup plain yogurt
1 Cup mashed ripe banana
1 egg

Mix together and add to above:
1 Cup whole wheat flour
½ Cup white flour
1 Cup regular oats
¾ Cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp. wheat bran
3 Tbsp. flaxseed meal
2 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt

Then add:
1 Cup chopped dates (or raisins)
½ Cup dried pineapple
¾ Cup walnuts
Bake at 350 for 20 min.

No wonder they are called Morning Glory…. they will make you wake up singing an aria. They are a rich muffin and very, very good. Next time I’m going to cut down on the brown sugar. Also I only cooked them for 15 min.

Summer Fun Challenge

2009-06-04T15:12:00.001-07:00

So Jana has been making open invitations on facebook and even recruiting on the telephone to join her "Summer Fun Challenge" which works when you create a new heathy habit by doing it for 21 days in a row. Most of you know I am fundamentally opposed to trying to attain perfection.... somewhere along the line I think you need to find a balance between improving yourself and appreciating yourself for everything you've already accomplished. So, Jana, don't faint but I am joining your following. You will see the real gap between my generation and your generation of followers. I won't be doing your power 90 minute beach body workout.... or getting up at 5:00 am to do hardcore strength training or even a gentle yoga.....

HOWEVER.... I am committing to walk on the treadmill for 10 min. at a 3.0 speed which adds up to a 20 min. mile, which breaks down to walking a 1/2 mi. everyday. This is just my speed as I have bombed out on any exercise since I had that killer pnuemonia in July of 2007. In good faith I have posted my first day's time to show I think I am up to this task. Who knows where this may lead but I have had enough of my lazy little self, so I'll try it your way.....

First Hike of the Season

2009-05-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Ken and Annie wiped the dust from the hiking books.... grabbed the sunscreen..... a leash for Abbey, donned their hiking apparel and headed out for Stewart Falls. I stayed home to babysit Grandma.... at least that is my cover story. The truth is I'm as out of shape as I've ever been..... apparently running up and down a flight of stairs a dozen times a day doesn't get you fit enough to propel yourself up the mountain trails. It looks like they had a great time and Annie took over my photography job.... the beautiful photos make for good motivation to pry myself away from my sewing machine and strap myself onto the treadmill. It's not Colorado but pretty dang close as you can get.

Our Goodnight Song

2009-05-03T16:04:00.001-07:00

This is a video of the song we sang to each other every night before we went to sleep.

Sleep tight, Sandman's a comin'
And he'll be here mighty, mighty soon
So if you don't cry, he'll be comin' by
With a great big lollipop moon

How I love my pretty baby
Sweet and precious little baby
How I love my pretty baby
Honest to goodness I do

Day 22 - Last Day With The Munchkin'

2009-05-02T19:26:00.001-07:00

It was a day of indoor projects and outdoor play for singing in the rain....

Kenzie is a lover of life..... a lover of humanity...... and animals too. She's a doer, independent, and imaginative. She's mischevious and her most endearing laugh is when she's about to play a trick on you. She's full of every emotion..... joyful elation and pure happiness.... sadness, madness, and poutiness. Her parents have done a great job in helping her give a definition to what she feels. And Kenzie feels what she feels..... then she is off to conquer new horizons. We've been happy, even if we had to run a little faster, to share this roller coaster ride of hers. We will surely be missing her.

Day 21 - Kangaroo Zoo

2009-05-02T12:59:00.001-07:00

Last night Mackenzie loaded up her backpack.... it must have weighed 50 lbs..... and said she was getting ready to go to school in the morning...... so bright and early this morning she pops out of bed..... cheerfully says she has to get dressed and will I do her hair.... WHAT? That is a task that takes at least an hour of cajoling. Yes, don't you remember I'm going to school today. Well Mackenzie it's a long drive to Colorado to go to school. No, school is at that jumping place. Silly me.... I never seem to catch on to any of her bag of tricks.

So, first we had to do some cleaning chores.... as you know Kenzicans loves to clean. She thoroughly washed my garbage can and said, "It's so clean and shiny now, that even the garbage will look beautiful." Gotta love a child's perspective.

Then Erica came over and did some pudding painting with her.... she even got to to give it a final touch of sprinkles and then the best part..... art, good enough to eat. Erica told me about Kangaroo Zoo.... a place in Pleasant Grove that also has jumping things..... and when I can't distract Kenzie any longer..... we head out.

This place had more jumping toys for her age, yet the tall ones that are still fun. There were a ton of kids, so she got in the social interaction she is craving.... poor thing, she's starting to feel a bit stranded on Grandma's deserted island. We ended the day with a Happy Meal instead of Grandma's horrible home cooking.... all in all we had a pretty good day!!

Day 20 - Shopping Anyone?

2009-04-30T17:54:00.001-07:00

Today we went on our most coveted adventure and I forgot the camera. She has just been waiting and waiting to go to Jumpin' Jacks. Reanna couldn't go with her because she was sick so I told her she would have to play by herself and she said that was ok because she was going to make some new friends..... which she did. That kid really has the friendship factor going on. It doesn't bother her a bit if she is snubbed..... she pouts for a minute and then scouts out her next potential friend.

Part of our night routine is taking Grandma Porter dinner. Sometimes she stays a little bit longer (Grandma only lives 3 doors down) Well, tonight she was gone longer than usual and I figured I better go and "save" my poor mom. Just then she bounced in the door. "I've been grocery shopping." I asked her where had she gone without telling me.... and she said, "it was only at Grandma Porter's house." I just love her little assortment of goodies.... she even brought a treat for the dog and I love the single pretzel. It reminded me of the days my kids would go over there at Christmas time and shop for presents for each other. Too cute.

Her other night job that she loves is feeding Abbey. She likes to make Abbey shake so she can get a treat (the dog.... not her)

Day 19 - A Day Behind

2009-04-30T17:29:00.001-07:00

The best part of this day was getting to play dress up.... the green outfit was her mermaid dress AND getting to go on a bike ride to the park with Aunt Annie. Aunt Annie taught her how to twist in the swing and then let it go. Big time fun.

Proof of the cousinhood Jana.... she found these goggles and had to wear them everywhere we went today.....

Day 18 - Three Little Pigs

2009-04-27T18:17:00.000-07:00

This afternoon Erica came and got Mackenzie to practice a play to put on for us after dinner.

Erica has made a friend for life.....

How she looks every time she has to leave.....

Day 17 - Mary Had A Little Lamb

2009-04-27T15:39:00.001-07:00

Today we went back to Thanksgiving Point to another one of their classes. This time it was all about sheep. They brought a little baby lamb into the classroom. Was that ever exciting. They all got to take turns feeding and petting it. The pony ride at the end was as exciting as ever. We had a nice time just mosey(ing) around and feeding all the animals..... fidgeting with everything there was to fidget with.

Then we finished up a ceramic project Mackenzie painted at Color Me Mine. She picked out a princess crown.... what else could it have been. We made a bead holder for it so she can hang it on her wall. Do you think she is wearing out on that dang camera always following her around.... recording her every movement. And as always she is my best dinner maker helper. Tonight we made spagetti and she helped me snap more green beans. What a girl!!

Day 16 - Turn Down Day

2009-04-26T17:24:00.001-07:00

Nothin' goin' on day..... kinda rainy.... drizzly.... and coldish. We just hung out with a bowl of popcorn and watched a couple of movies. However, we did go out and do the weekly shopping. Getting Kenzie ready to go, I said.... Now, Kenzie, we're getting ready to do the grocery shopping. "I know, I know," she said, "we're not going to buy any toys, or any candy, and not any clothes..... only food." After we were done I praised her with what a big girl she had been and she looked up and said, "Oh, grammy, it was my pleasure." That girl really knows how to work it. Yes, she left with the rainbow lollipop she wanted. The little project we did..... coloring macaroni..... was for projects we have lined up for next week. Doesn't it look gorgeous?

Day 15 - Discovery Gateway

2009-04-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we drove to Salt Lake City to the Discovery Gateway Museum for kids. (it is next to the Energy Solutions building) We decided we were going to let her set the pace and play for as long as it held her interest without anyone telling her to hurry up (I wonder who that could possibly be) and just let her soak it all in. We were there about 5 hours. She mostly played in the little grocery store...... picking out food and ringing it up...... running over to the kitchen to put it away or cook it up...... running around to check the mail in all the mailboxes. What a cute place for kids. We'll have to take the boys there, Jana, when you are here next. They have all sorts of play stations. Kenzie said her favorite thing was having the clown (who was a fake clown by the way) make her a balloon. If you're wondering about the long thing hanging from it...... well, she asked if the horse could have a long tail. We thought she'd ask next for a princess and a prince charming to go with it and maybe a castle too. Her next favorite was the Life Flight Helicopter. It even made a sound like an engine starting up. We had a full and happy day.

Day 14 - Play Date With Erica

2009-04-25T19:18:00.001-07:00

Erica didn't have school on Friday so she picked up our little Rosebud (Erica is also teaching her about flowers) at 9:00 am for a day of fun. I haven't had a chance to talk to Erica yet but she took so many cute pictures with my camera it was hard to choose which ones to use. First they hiked to the waterfall that is behind Pleasant Grove (I think by Rotary Park) Then it looks like they played games..... and then I heard they had a picnic at Discovery Park for dinner. Thank you Erica for making it a wonderful day for all of us.... you have a way of making the world a little brighter with everything you touch.

Day 14 - Mackenzie Gets Her Land Legs

2009-04-24T08:42:00.001-07:00

Just behind our condos is a charter school. Kenzie can hear the kids out on the playground. She loves to just go out and watch them play. I can hear hear the theme music from the Little Mermaid filling the air....."oh, how I wish I could be a part of their world...."

Well, today was her lucky day. (wouldn't you know it's one of the only days I didn't have her dressed). Anyway, one of the teachers opened the gate and let her run in wild and free. True to course she had a dozen kids following her across the steps to the slides within 5 minutes and made a best friend in six. Today she is having a special play date with Erica so I won't report in until late tonight.....

Day 13 - A Sad State of Affairs

2009-04-23T17:03:00.000-07:00

Taking that last step over the halfway mark, this is how Annie found me this morning. All the energy I had could have fit into my big toe. Annie, God bless her, racked up a massive amount of stars.....set her homework aside......... did the morning routine with her and trotted her off to the park. Having people around you to help ease the load when you are at your saturation level is a beautiful thing. By the time they returned I was rejuevinated and ready to take the afternoon on.

She had a blast at the park and joined all the activities that were going on. She is such a social creature.... within minutes of joining a group of kids she is happily a part of the group. She is surely her dad's girl.

This afternoon we got a little wading pool for the back patio. It's not much but it's a step above the 9X11 pan she was dishing water out of. After carrying out 12 big pans of hot water to dump into it she informed me she didn't want to play in it anymore. Damn it kid..... you get out there and have fun playing in that pool (of course I didn't say that but the words blinked off and on like a neon sign in my brain)..... Hmmmm....... Hmmmmm...... That is me doing my mantra with thumbs touching my index finger, legs crossed, with incense burning.....

Day 12 - Shaving Cream Fun

2009-04-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

Little Petunia is starting to plan her own projects now. Today she decided we should make birdhouses. (I have an unfinished one on my computer desk) It took quite a bit of convincing for her to accept we wouldn't be able to get a real bird to go in them. We made a puffy paint which was awesome. However she didn't want it to be puffy so she squished the heck out of it.

Puffy Paint

1/3 Cup white glue

2/3 Cup shaving cream

Mix together and add tempura paint for the coloring. We used a styrofoam egg carton to mix our individual colors in. I had some sea shells and insect buttons and leaves that we used for decorations and she picked out some birds from Michaels. But, what Miss Funfinity was really interested in was that can of shaving cream.

About the time I was getting her situated on the back patio, Erica came over..... very much not knowing what she was walking in to. Out came the glint in the eye, and the contagious giggle.... joy filled her whole being as she covered us both with her magic potion. Watching her made me realize how it seems never again will we feel as much complete and simple joy as we do in childhood.... and what a shame it is to squelch it with too many no's, or I don't have the time, or a million other ways we turn them away. (I know because I did it more times than I care to remember to my own kids) Even though I'm exhaused at the end of the day, this time with Mackenzie has been wonderfully fullfilling and joyful. If we frustrate each other it's only because we are two apples growing on the same tree.

Day 11 - Aunt Annie

2009-04-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

Kenzie lives for the hour when Aunt Annie is home from work. Her very favorite thing to do is going on a walking adventure with her and Abbey. (anywhere you walk is qualified as an adventure) She also loves playing superman, dancing, sharing a laugh, doing their homework together, and wearing her glasses. Annie is passing on all of her good advice..... "when you grow up and you are 18 you will go to college"..... she makes her repeat it over and over everyday. Right now they are working on their letters. Don't they look sweet together?

Day 10 - Hairy Harry The Potato Man

2009-04-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

It was such a beautiful day today..... we spent most of it on the back patio after we went to Cooks Nursery and picked up a few flowers and seeds. To make Hairy Harry you cut out a hollow about 1 1/2" deep on the top of your potato. Cut a slice off the bottom so it will stand up straight. They had cute ideas of using carrot for the eyes, radish for the nose and cutting a turnip for the mouth.... it's hard to tell but Kenzie just drew a face on a piece of paper and we stuck it on with a toothpick.... it works and shows off all her artistic abilities. To make the hair, you're "suppossed" to fill the hollow with wet tissues and sprinkle plenty of cress seeds on to it. Pour in some water into the plant saucer and stand Harry into it. After a few days, Harry's hair is "suppossed" to be long enough to cut, wash and eat. We couldn't find any cress seeds so we got some chives and put some dirt in the top and planted the seeds. We'll see how hairy, harry gets.

Tonight little Miss Sassafrass helped me snap green beans for dinner although she insisted they were NOT green beens but aspenasgrass (asperagas) She was also proud of her healthy choice for snack time today and showed me what all of her friends at school do with their oranges after they eat them. Her theme song should be.... "Girls just want to have fun..... oh yeah

Day Nine - Grandpa Ken Earns 100 Stars

2009-04-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

Every Sunday morning is grocery day. We planned our menus and wrote our list. We also wrote up a new star chart to begin a new week. Mackenzie earned a penny for every star. We added making healthier snack choices by eating more fruits and vegetables to her star chart this week.... trying to fight the battle of that dang (you know what I really mean to say) Easter bunny. Kenzie wrote her list and said she only needed to put on one thing..... a toy. Notice her new purple bucket on the next picture with Grandpa Ken. She spent her Easter dollar and 7 of her star pennies. It was very painful for her to part with those 7 pennies.

Grandpa Ken and Kenzie spent the afternoon at the park and going on a bike ride so I could have some time alone to work on some of my own projects. I'm sure there is a special store in heaven where he can redeem all the stars he has earned for all the thoughtful and considerate things he does on my behalf. I finished up a quilt I am making for Melissa's mother-in-laws grandkids for Christmas..... and cut out 2 more.

Tonight we had dinner with Susan's family at Grandma Porters. We really had a great time. Susan's kids are getting so big and Kara's baby is due in just 3 short weeks. I'm sure that isn't how she'd describe it. After dinner Kenzie wanted to go back to the park and wasn't happy when my answer wasn't yes.... let's go right this minute. I told her to go play with the kids, meaning Susan's youngest that is eleven. "She's just a pretend kid. All the kids here aren't real, because they're big," she told me. There's no real kids here like me." What a rip off, having to spend the evening with all of us fake adults. We finally got her interested in playing hide and seek with the beannie babies (notice the lamp) and she found out we were very useful for finding the ones that got hidden up high.

Day Eight - More Grandpa's & Grandma's

2009-04-18T18:02:00.001-07:00

Today we went to visit Grandpa Joe, Grandma Austin, and Aunt Mina. She had a great time giving marshmellow treats to Mina's dog, Penny. One treat for the dog and five for herself. Grandma Austin didn't think they looked good enough for a picture but I think the three of them are pretty darn cute. There is just an endless string of grandparents in the life of Miss Kenzie. We visit Grandma Porter every morning (she just lives 3 doors down) and when she is unsatisfied with me she is going to run away to Grandma Lisa's house. (Lindsay's Mom)

This afternoon we made suncatchers for the window from crayons and strings. This was Canyon's favorite art project to do when were at his house a couple of weeks ago. Kenzie is so adamant about doing everything herself so I try hard to let her to that..... what you can't see is me hovering over her in the background wringing my hands and biting my nails.... sweat pouring as I imagine myself being arrested for child abuse as her fragile skin is burned by a one ton iron.

Melted Crayon & String Art Picture

Use a vegetable peeler or crayon sharpner to shave different colors of crayons. Place a brown paper bag down on the table. Then tape a piece of waxed paper about 8 X 11 paper size onto the bag. Using glue and bits of colored string or (and) various colors of tissue paper along with the crayon peelings to form a design. When the design is complete, cover it with another sheet of waxed paper. Place another brown paper bag over the waxed paper and press with a warm iron. Trim the edges and frame with any color of painters tape or you can use masking tape. Hang in the window.

Kenzie recieved a phone call tonight which she promtly took outside into her "office." I'm sure she needed privacy to tell mommy all about the trials of her day..... how grandpa and grandma wouldn't buy her any sodas with dinner and they made her eat dinner before she could have an ice cream cone..... and she had to have some vegetables at lunch time instead of 2 brownies and a handful of jelly beans.... grandma and grandpa have been nothing but trouble today!!

Day Seven - Duck Duck Goose AND A Pony Ride

2009-04-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

This morning we made some homemade finger paints. We were going to do some color experiments but she already knew what colors mixed together to make orange, green, and purple. She said, "Grandma don't you know.... I'm in Pre-K" OK then, little miss smarty pants. She still had fun making her rainbow. Here is the reciepe we used. It makes quite a thick paint and couldn't be used with brushes but it was great with hands and popsicle sticks. We used tempura paint to make our colors.

Finger Paint
1/2 C. cornstarch
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 C. cold water
Mix ingredients in a pan. Cook over low heat until mixture is thick, smooth and clear. Stir while cooking and then let it cool a bit and then add your colors. Cover tightly to store. I used medicine bottles for the paint.

This afternoon it was time for our suprise adventure she had been waiting for all week. We went to the Duck, Duck, Goose activity at Thanksgiving Point with Reanna and Melissa. They made a duck that quacks from a cup.... fed the ducks and saw the difference between a duck and a goose and then the biggest excitement of all.... she got to go on her first pony ride. Afterwards the girls had a great time feeding the chickens, sheep and goats. The baby goats were just adorable and leaped around like new baby kittens.

While I was working on this, the house became eerily silent so I crept up the stairs and there was the little farm girl as still as I have seen her in the seven days she has been here.

Day Six - Happy Snow Day

2009-04-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

Kenzie could not believe her eyes when she got up this morning and looked outside. She ran right for all her snow gear and suited up. (good thinking mom & dad) The snow wouldn't hold together so we couldn't make a snowman but she had fun frolicking around with her friend Abbey the dog. (as you can see, Abbey is thrilled to have a new friend)

We went to storytime at the library again and came home to make cookies since we couldn't play at the park or go on a bike ride. I was going to have a cute little life lesson about how the next best thing about eating cookies is sharing them with friends...... but grandma was just too darn tired for the going out and sharing part. We will just have to have fun eating them.

Day Five - McDonald's Happy Meal

2009-04-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

Refer to Miss Mackenzie's family blog http://tyja83.blogspot.com/, post of March 23, 2009. The first order for today was getting a trim for her bangs that she gave quite a chopping to. She is now just as cute as a button.

Next we went to Grandma's "quilting school" where I sewed with Ann and Melissa and it was Kenzie's job to figure out how to play with Reanna and the toys by herself. She has been a little disturbed that we make food at home and don't go to McDonalds for happy meals. So when Melissa presented the idea that if they would play happily with smiles on their faces until lunch time she would get them one. About 15 minutes later Mackenzie tugged on Melissa's arm..... "hey, I'm having a really hard time keeping this smile on my face the whole time while I play"..... little did Melissa know she had hit pay dirt. Kenzie would have stood on her head for 12 hours for that Happy Meal and chicken nuggets. Too funny.

Kenzie just loves to help cook. She sometimes takes a bad rap for being too bossy and liking to take charge but I'm finding the truth of the matter is..... she is one capable little girl. I handed her the ingredients and she put the whole thing together.... all by herself. She was the pizza sauce spreader, cheese sprinkler, and olive cutter (and eater)

Day Four - Star Chart

2009-04-14T16:43:00.000-07:00

Because of the length of time Mackenzie will be here we had to establish some order and who indeed is the REAL boss around here and so no childhood is complete without a star chart. It might be hard to tell but Mackenzie is using her big girl voice, talking politely, making her bed, putting her dirty clothes away, putting her shoes away so she knows where they are and picking up her toys. Boy, is she proud of herself. She can't wait to tell mommy and daddy what a big girl she is and how grown up she is learning to be. Sadly, she thinks being grown up will be the coolest thing ever.... because of course we all do whatever we want ALL THE TIME.

Today was storytime at the libary. The theme was the jungle and "the library lady" read a book about a sloth who did everything slowly, slowly, slowly and a baby elephant who wanted to do everything by himself. It was also very exciting when she got to sing the 5 little monkeys teasing Mr. Alligater song. She checked out 6 library books to read at bedtime.

Day Three - Fun In The Sun

2009-04-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day so we called our friends Reanna and Melissa to go to Discovery Park with us for a picnic and some play fun. We totally forgot it was spring break and the park was a sea of blond hair and bright pink pants and shirts. The girls had a great time, however Mackenzie did spend a great deal of time wandering the park crying, Reanna, where are you, my friend..... I can't see you. So, sweet. You'd think they were long lost cousins. Well, I suppose they are now. What would life be without a friend to miss us when we're gone.

We also started Day One of our crystal gardens. Kenzie thinks science experiments are pretty cool, even if they are kind of stinky.

Day Two - Rabbits Do What???

2009-04-12T20:45:00.000-07:00

We won't mention who forgot oversized rabbits actually hop around the world dropping off baskets full of candy and toys to all the children of the world.... even though one of those critters left a little something in our car yesterday..... sooo, while Kenzie and I went on a little adventure to the park guess who hopped on by leaving a few little treasures including a pair of "slip slops?"

We were invited to Ann & Melissa's family Easter party where Kenzie had the time of her life. She ran in like she had known everyone for her entire life. I have always had a squeamish feeling about the phrase, live life to the fullest", it just seems such an over done and worn out phrase, but that's just what Kenzie seems to do... she just loves to be in the middle of whatever hurricane is about to take off and telling it just which way to blow. After lunch the kids had an Easter egg hunt. They each got to find 14 eggs and one with a car on it that had a slip of papar with a dollar amount written on it they got to trade in for "real" money. There were two $10's, 3 $5's and the rest $1's. Kenzie was thrilled with her dollar and we'll spend it tomorrow. They really know how to have a good time and as you can see it is sometimes hard to tell the kids from the adults. We'd like to thank everyone for such good company and a great afternoon of fun and relaxation.

Kenzie also painted a sparkly butterfly to put in the window and made an Easter cake. She got to be "the sprinkler." It was a busy, full and fun day.

Day One - We Made The Switch

2009-04-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we made the switch in Grand Junction, CO. We met Tyler 1/2 way..... Kenzie leaped in our car, with her bicycle and a bag or two and off we went. She is our girl for the next month while Tyler goes to Argentina for some work "stuff." For those of you who have hungered for more stories of Kenzie girl on the home front.... stay tuned we will be making daily posts of all her fun adventures at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

As you should all know, Mackenzie is large and in charge. Last night she seated us on the chairs, along with all the stuffed bears and school was in session. This is my favorite time of day with her..... she is in her play groove and orchestrates how everything will go down..... it's like being part of her grand play. She would make an excellent set director. She wound up the night by checking all of our teeth for cavities. We were all then rousted to the bathrooms to brush our teeth and go to bed. She was still talking when I fell asleep.... P.S. We won't mention that after the 6th phone call we got the idea the traumatized ones of the group were none other than the parents of the well adjusted little girl.

Burgoyne Surrounded

2009-04-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

These are the wedding quilts I made for Ryan and Alissa. Each quilt has 6, 888 pieces and the smallest piece is 3/4" square. Kim introduced me to this heritage rich and elegant block and then added her artistic touch with her custom machine quilting to make it worthy of a truly special occaision.

Quiltmakers have long been naming their blocks to commemorate important events, honor a famous person or make strong political statements. The Burgoyne Surrounded block recalls the Revolutionary War battle of Saratoga, New York. On October 17, 1777, a small force of Americans surrounded the army of British "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne, and seven thousand British troops under his command and forced him to surrender. The battle proved to be a turning point in America’s fight for independence, convincing France to enter the war. Ironically, the block’s name immortalizes the defeated Burgoyne rather than the victor.

I also like to honor special events and special people with the quilts I make. I like to weave special meaning into their making. I chose a historical pattern for Ryan because of his love of history. One time we visited the Historical Art Museum in Denver and it was like going with my own tour guide. He really enriched that experience for me because of his knowledge of world history. I made Alissa’s from the same pattern, only reversing the use of the light and dark fabric. Kind of like a yin and yang style of companion quilts. I wanted to do one for each of them to honor, not only the unity of their marriage, but also the independence inside of it they have lovingly preserved for each other.

Fun In The Sun

2009-03-29T16:50:00.000-07:00

It was fun times this week on the California scene. Canyon and Auggie have grown like weeds and will soon be ready for downhill races on their cycles. It is amazing to watch Auggie spin around his track in his backyard at lightning speed.... the kid is only two. We cooked up a storm and made all sorts of color concoctions and experiments. Canyon registered for Kindergarten while we were there... he is a sweet, thoughtful, and loving kid who soaks up learning anything new.... he will love going to school. Auggie is in constant motion.... he is always watching and imitating, and figuring out the best way to do things. He plays second fiddle to no one. I love it when he doesn't like what you are saying.... his hands go on his hips and you know soon he will be looking for something to throw. I wonder what it says about me as a grandma, when I am more endeared to my grandkids when they are about to do something naughty?

This is the best picture I had of Ryan and Alissa at their wedding. The sun made everyone squint. I will post another one when I get them from the other photographer. It was a perfect day, on Friday, March 27th. Alissa was beautiful in her silk purple dress. (Ryan was cute, too) They were married in Palos Verdas on the bluffs overlooking the ocean. It was sweet and simple. Ryan said his vows through choked back tears and Alissa said hers with a giddy happiness. That was the sweet part. Together they were perfection. Afterwards, Ryan treated us to lunch at their favorite Brazilian restaurant. They are honeymooning for the week in Japan. Congratulations, you two. We were happy we could help you celebrate such a memorable day.

Color Mixologist

2009-03-15T15:19:00.001-07:00

So I'm still rummaging up activities to do with "the boys", and for Mackenzie when she comes in April for three weeks.... YIKES!!!! I bought this kit at Funfinity. It has different experiments for mixing colors and making colored crystals. When I opened it last night it looked like so much fun I wanted to transpose myself to Jana's kitchen right on the spot. All I'm missing is the black capes with the different colored stars and moons on them and saying Master Color Mixologist.

After we mess around with the colors there are a few art projects we can do. Using the eyedropper (this step is very important if you're going to be official about it) you put large drops of color (I think I'll add a little dry tempura paint color to the liquid colors) on white paper. Blow the color drops with a straw to make pictures. Then add a little dishsoap (1 Tbsp.) to the paint and pour it in a shallow bowl or plate and blow bubbles up with your straw. Place a piece of white paper over the bubbles to let them pop on the paper and make your design. Mmmm.... I think all these colors are washable, Marshall. However, I think grandparents don't worry about those things anymore. We just breeze in and out and spread a little magic.... then poof we're gone.

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

2009-03-01T15:33:00.001-08:00

Erica made the cutest little cheesecakes for a family dinner today. If you haven't eaten anything Erica cooks you are missing out on a great pleasure in life. She is just amazing the things she makes.... the softest dinner rolls that literally melt in your mouth.... orange rolls.... she knows how to do almost everything.... she is a real Rennaisance Woman of the New Age.... she cooks, quilts, makes the cutest cards, is almost all the way through school for a teaching degree, recieving a scholarship so she will run on the schools track team.... she is fit from working out everyday.... she remembers where everybody puts everything which is great when she lives with everybody who can't remember where they put things.... whew.... I could just keep on going.... she is so amazing.

So..... this will be one of the projects to do with Canyon. (and of course cute little Auggie) I'm sure he will join in the mixing.....

Ingredients:
1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg

Topping:
1 can pie filling cherries

Directions:
In a bowl, combine crumbs and butter. Press gently into the bottom of 12 paper-lined muffin cups. In a mixing bowl combine cream cheese, vanilla, lemon juice, sugar and egg.... beat until smooth. Spoon into crusts - pressing in gently. Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes until set. Cool completely. Spoon cherries on top. Chill for at least 2 hours.

Erica also made some with 1/2 of an oreo cookie as the crust (put in frosting side up) and them she crushed the rest of the cookie and sprinkled it on the cream cheese mixture before she cooked it. (She is also so inventive and creative) Yeah, Erica!!!!!

The Grand Finale - Crystal Garden

2009-02-28T14:20:00.000-08:00

I'm giving this an A for a fun project to do. Click on the picture to see how awesome they look up close.... they blossomed even more over night without anything else being added.

Day Three - Crystal Garden

2009-02-27T15:26:00.000-08:00

I added the concoction to the crystals this morning and they are getting richer in color, growing thicker and taller, and starting to creep up the sides of the pie tin. When I do this again I'm going to eleminate the step for day 2 and just add the concoction each day. All I need now is some water and a snorkel and we could explore our own coral reef....

Day Two - Crystal Garden

2009-02-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

I was so excited when I ran out into the kitchen this morning to see if the crystals were growing and found that they were. I added the 2 more Tablespoons of salt.... to be continued....

Day One - Crystal Garden

2009-02-25T15:42:00.001-08:00

I have been racking my brain for new projects for Canyon and I to do on our visit the end of March. I ran across this concoction for a crystal garden. I thought I would test it out before I tell him we're going to do this really cool thing.

On Day One: Over pieces of charcoal pour 2 Tablespoons each of bluing (I found it at Smith's in the laundry area.... it is used in the rinse cycle to make clothes brighter), non iodized salt, water, and ammonia. Add drops of food coloring.

On Day Two: Add 2 more Tablespoons salt

On Day Three: Add 2 Tablespoons each of bluing, salt, water, and ammonia. Avoid pouring on crystal growth. Repeat Day 3 as needed to keep crystals growing.

Anybody who has any ideas for more science experiments or crafts to do feel free to tell me about them. I know there are some amazing mom, dad's and grandparents out there with some great ideas.....

OK, I've been a little distracted...

2009-02-18T16:06:00.000-08:00

Or better yet a little obsessed... once I get interested in something I no longer know or care if the sky is falling..... if anyone is hungry or feeling neglected..... (truth they are probably relieved that I am occupied....) until I finally wear out of it or Annie and Ken totally rebel against eating anymore tomato soup and cheese sandwiches.... so I have come up for air, however my interest isn't waning...

I have made 5 bug quilts (check out the frogs and ladybugs escaping from their jars), 2 for "the boys" and 3 for Kathy's newly acquired grandkids..... I made 3 levi crazy quilts from David's levi's for Kyle, Diane and David's girlfriend..... I hand embroidered the feather stitch with #5 pearl cotton on the seams. It was a soothing kind of thing to do and hopefully a comforting something to keep David close by as he continues to be missed. Then Kim got me going on a pattern called Burgoyne Surrounded (with over 6,000 pieces in it) and I made two of them for Ryan and Alissa for their wedding next month. I'll post a picture of the entire quilts once I have given them away. And I've started a third one.... the smallest of the squares are 1/2" finished. I think I'm going to enter it in a few shows this year just for fun. I also made Kenzie a cute crayon bag and an Asian wall hanging for the house. And there you have it.... and that's all there is folks....

2008-12-16T11:37:00.000-08:00

I have been busy getting Christmas ready before I had surgery on my hand, which happened last Thurs. Everything went well. I had the new age version of valium instead of the anesthesia and didn't have any side effects.... and it is wonderful to have the full use of my hand back.

I have made 9 quilts to give for Christmas, none of which I can post yet. The little skirt was made by one of my quilting friends for Mackenzie. I found this cute t-shirt that looks like it was made for it. Thanks Kathy for your generousity.

Will the real boss please stand up...

2008-11-09T15:35:00.000-08:00

We, (Ken surprised me at the airport and came with me... I was so excited and totally surprised I jumped up and down like a kid at Christmas who got the new bike they wanted.... with as little time as we get to spend with the grandkids it is nice to be able to share it together.) We had a marvelous week with Miss Mackenzie who is always entertaining. She is really into figuring out who has the power in life and campaining for it to lean in her favor as much as possible.

Every morning we walked to a little gas station for a diet coke and she got to pick out a tootsie pop. On the 3rd day she announced she was boss of the lollipops, which translated into we will buy her as many as she can fit into her fist and eat them in sucession if she so desires.

One day she helped Grandpa Ken with some clean up chores (Ken is the boss of the cleaning at our house... which translates into he does most of it) She announced she was boss of the glass table in the living room, which translated into.... you will let me spray as much windex on it as I want to. However, she did a very nice job of polishing and arranging the items on the table. I was very impressed.

We also had fun making cookies. Yes, she was the boss of the cookies and I am a less controlling grandma than I was a mother. I let her hold the beaters by herself... roll the dough out by herself and let her put the decorations on any way she wanted. (no kids, she didn't have to count out 5 chocolate chips to make the mouth)

She also enjoyed stitching with me and I was amazed at how good she was at it. Had I known it would interest her, I would have made her, her own stitching kit. That will be something fun for us to do when she visits next time.

She was also cute with her tea set. She immediately set up tea and treats. The 2 dolls became her sisters... one day I could hear her telling them.... "Do you want to be a part of this family? If you do you will not wake up your sister anymore in the middle of the night. That is just rude and I won't have it anymore." She is a very no nonsense mother. Too funny.

Colorado Rocky Mountain High

2008-10-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

I'm on my way to Denver to see Miss Mackenzie and help celebrate her 4th birthday. I have had so much fun putting together an awesome present for her. I purchased a backpack to fill it with a tea party to go. I made a tea party quilt.... bought a picnic tea set, and play food and 2 dollies (that I got from the silent auction at For Every Body's Think Pink fund raiser. I can't wait so we can play house and fix ourselves some fancy snacks. I'm taking my pumpkin cookie cutters and recipe for soft sugar cookies so we can do some Halloween baking. Then I made us matching butterfly jammies since I will be sharing her room. It was nice of Tyler to give me a months notice. I'm also hoping to visit with a few good friends....

Tagged by Brenda...

2008-09-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

.... my quilting friend who doesn't know that I only know about 3 people and they are all my family that might plot my demise if I send this to them. But since I'm having a difficult time lately drumming up something to blog about, I'll play along...

What I was doing...
20 years ago...
1. Moved to Lompoc, CA where we bought our first home

2. Went on our first family vacation that didn't mean driving to just Utah. We went to Olympic National Park which started our tradition of camping and hiking in a different National Park every summer.

3. Bought our first VCR (the budget was cut to the bone saving to buy our house) We must have been the last family in the United States to own one. We still didn't have a remote for the TV.

10 years ago...
1. Lived in Broomfield, Colorado where my heart still belongs

2. Did away with the TV stations for the next 7 years and only used the TV for renting movies. Was that ever a mistake.... I would much rather Tyler and Andrea were watching the TV other than the things they were actually doing.

3. Had stayed married for 17 years and loved every year of it, except for that time Ken cosigned on a motorcylcle for Tyler. I wasn't happy then.

5 years ago...
1. Lived in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and walked every weekend on the white sandy beaches and swam and body surfed in the warm bath-like water of the ocean. Those are my happiest, wait my only happy memories of living there.

2. Made my first quilt

3. I quit smoking. Yeah for me. I was finally able to cross that goal off my list where it had been for 20 years.

1 year ago...
1. Almost died from pnuemonia... spent a week in the ICU on life support. I don't think I would have survived it had I still been smoking.

2. I quit making lists of the things I didn't like about myself and what I would change and started just doing things I liked doing. I'm as good as I'm going to get and I've made alot of quilts.

3. Moved for the last time to Orem, UT. I love our little condo and my own "creating" room.

This year so far...
1. Experienced the sadness of having a sibling die.

2. Felt the love and closeness of all my family and extended family.

3. Made 8 quilts for Quilts for Cancer.

Yesterday...
1. Picked out more Asian fabric for a quilt that will go on the cousin list

2. Finished an Asian theme wall hanging for one of the bedrooms. Now I need to get it to Kim to work her magic and turn it into a work of art.
3. Bought a new pair of levi's.

Today...
1. Babysat for Quik Quilts, otherwise known as Mecca or Jeruseleum by my family, while they are at the Utah Quilt Guild Festival
2. Cut out the next block for the Block of the Month quilt.
3. Picked up some grape juice and Gaterade for Annie on my way home. She has a horrible sounding cold and I'm sure it doesn't feel good either.

Tomorrow...
1. Still babysitting at Quik Quilts
2. Cutting out kits for Shop Hop

3. Eating the rest of the little snicker bars Melissa left on her desk.

So closing my eyes and picking 3 names out of a hat are Marshall W (or Jana), Misty B, and Stacey W. You're it.

For Dinner Tonight...

2008-09-22T16:48:00.000-07:00

We are having one of my favorite meals... chicken sandwiches on a croissant and potato salad. The most difficult thing about potato salad is getting the dressing right. I use Hidden Valley, the original ranch dry packet with 1 c. of milk and 1 c. of salad dressing. I figure Hidden Valley has mastered putting the spices together so why should I spend time trying to improve it. All I put in is potatos, eggs, celery and Kosher baby dills.

The chicken sandwiches are crumbled up Quorn chik'n tenders, a small apple, red grapes cut in 4ths, chopped celery, and a pkg. of cashews.... I moisten it with some of the dressing I put on the potato salad. The croissants are from Costco. And there you have it... I have plenty of time to make gourmet meals but I still like to do what is fast and easy. Some days I spend more time cutting, slicing and dicing things I need for different meals during the week... and then on those days I spend a minimile of time just throwing everything together.

We're Going Asian...

2008-09-16T13:21:00.001-07:00

I know.... it has been awhile.... thanks for the prompt Rachel. All of a sudden I ran out of things to say.... not that, that has changed... but here are the things I am working on now... aren't you getting tired of recipes and quilts? Everytime I get the urge to mull over all the ways I could improve as a human being, I go work on a quilt until the urge passes :) However we are looking forward to a visit from the Wilcox gang and other exciting news, for me at least is Tyler & Lindsay, sent me a ticket to Colorado so I can be there for Kenzie's 4th birthday party.... so of course I am working on a super dooper birthday present...

Ken just finished a remodel of the downstairs bathroom which we (Ken) painted purple and green. Now he has retiled my bathroom and is painting it purple.... my room will be a very pale purple.... so I am trying to get new quilts done for the beds.... we are doing an Asian theme.
I pulled out the paper pieced cranes I started working on last year and I need 60 more to do one quilt.... the other one is going to be like the star in a star quilt except using the Asian fabrics. All the fabric has a gold thread that runs through it, giving it a very elegant look. Otherwise I've been busy trying to finish "the boys" bug quilts for Christmas and one for Jana from T-shirts she had of races she has been in. Next on the agenda will be quilts for Kyle and Diane from David's levis, which I've found a cute pattern for.... and so it goes, there is no end to the quilt projects I want to do...

On The Cousin List

2008-08-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

I just finished two easy panel with border quilts for the store's displays. The one on the top, "Come Sit In My Garden" is going on the list for one of the quilts the cousins can choose from. (you really need to click on it to see it up close to see the beautiful design of the fabric.... and yes, see Kim's fabulous quilting on it) Yesterday Erica and I picked out fabric for her first quilt. It was so much fun.... she's a natural picking out colors and adapting the quilt so she could make it bigger. She's going to take a beginning class from Melissa at Quik Quilts in Oct. It was just like taking one of your kids to the first day of school. Being an aunt is so much fun.

On The Wish Train

2008-08-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

I’ve been reflecting lately about all the time I have on my hands. It seems I’ve always been waiting for certain events to take place so life will be good. I couldn’t wait to get married and have kids…. be a mom and build a happy home. Then I lived for the day those kids would be out of diapers…. into preschool…. then eagerly anticipated all four of them in regular school. I was fortunate and was able to be home with them…. but it seems the whole time I lamented how life was passing me by and I would never mature into a successful career. When I did go to work, I found out I hadn’t missed a thing and could work circles around all the twenty somethings. By that time the kids were in their teens and I couldn’t imagine that would ever end. I was always waiting for them to outgrow some "stage" they were in. Oh, I enjoyed big chunks of that life, but not as fully as I could have looking back on it now…. waiting…. always waiting for all the responsibilities to lesson. And now, it seems in lightning speed the train pulled into the station and I’m living the life I wished for so longingly…. And I’ll be danged if I’m going to lament this time away. I’m a slow study, but life is pretty darn good now, especially with a long term illness in a state of remission. I have to run with the wind while the sun is shining. As I see it I’m on the caboose of the wish train…. what’s left to pine after… a knee or hip replacement, a dose of dementia? So I’ll continue to love every minute of the quilts I sew.

Along the way I must have lost my mind. Isn’t this the craziest hobby…. cutting up pieces of fabric that fit into a small size 11 ½ by 9 inch container and then sewing them back together again. It doesn’t look like that tiny amount of fabric will be big enough to wrap yourself up in…. but it is. This is the newest fabric that arrived at the store this week. I just love all the new bright prints they have for kids now…. I love how there is always a new technique to learn…. my association with other quilters…. new colors….. new ways of putting things together…. yes, life is good….

Rasberry Chicken Salad

2008-08-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

This is a recipe I had at a luncheon at my cousin's baby shower. There's nothing like a good (& filling) fresh salad on a hot day.

1 bunch iceburg lettuce

1 bunch romaine lettuce

1 bunch spinach

1 sm. red onion, minced

1 cucumber sliced

Pkg. Quorn Chik n' tenders

2 c. fresh rasberries

2 c crushed peanut brittle (when I can't find this, I use honey roasted peanuts instead)

Dressing: Mix together

4 Tbsp. rasberry jam

4 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

2/3 C. oil

3 T. sugar

I have been busy this week trying to organize my quilt room.... get all my projects together and see what I need to get to complete them. (pictures forth coming) I'm going to carry on the Grandma Porter tradition and make a quilt for all of "the cousins" (my kids generation.... this includes you too, Dewey & Stacey) The only difference being that mine will be the lap size, snuggle up quilts. So if I post one that you like, send me a note and I'll put your name on it. This will be a project that will span a few years. I'm also trying to machine quilt one of my quilts for cancer. I'm starting with a meandering (stipple) stitch which is not as easy as it looks (pictures not forthcoming) I feel like a Kindergartner writing on my quilt. I have 2 more quilts to get done for the cancer project so it will be good practice. I hope everyone is having a good week.

One quilt and a recipe coming up...

2008-08-10T16:18:00.000-07:00

Here is another easy, easy recipe. In fact you will probably say.... "I haven't thought of making that for a long time... I'm so glad Denise posted this...."

Broccoli and Cheese Sauce over Potatoes
I like to clean and wrap potatoes in tin foil to cook them. I spray them with a little pam. Steam a bunch of broccoli. Thin some cream of celery soup with a little milk and add some grated cheese and heat, to pour over the top of the potato and broccoli.... you can top with some vege bacon (I'm the only one who likes it that way) This meal just tastes so wholesome and nourishing. Make enough for two nights while you're at it. Ken did rebel on the third night of black bean & zucchini burritos last week.... however, his only recourse was to make his own dinner.

So, I am now officially Grandma Porters cutter outer of her quilts. I love the cutting out part, it is soothing to me and I love to use up every bit of the fabric. I have several quilts going that use 1" strips. When it's done, there will be over 9,000 pieces in it. Some people might think I have too much time on my hands.... and I do. Anyway, mom is amazing how she keeps on sewing with limited eyesight and turning out majestic quilts. She loves to show them off so I thought I'd keep you all posted on what she's making as well. Kim Peterson is now the official machine quilter, as you will notice by the beautiful quilting on it. Uncle Evan has spoken for this one.

Bugs In A Jar

2008-08-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

I have still been quilting up a storm. I have mostly done displays for the store from panels and then I put some kind of border around it. I used to dislike doing these, as it didn't seem like real quilting, but the fabric out now is so cute. I have been working on bug quilts for "the boys" for Christmas... and one for Aunt Kathy's new grandson (he is 7) and I'm giving the ladybug one to her new granddaughter (she is 1) Kim did the machine quilting on it.... she is just amazing and turns any quilt, no matter how poorly sewn, into a work of art. Click on the picture to see her echo quilting around the daisy's and ladybugs.

Bonus Recipe

2008-08-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

I made Val's recipe last night and it was so delicious.... I've added her link so you can view it. (you need to click on the picture to see the enlarged version... it looked like it was right out of Better Homes & Gardens) Very classy, Val. The things I did different....... I cut the corn off the cob first and simmered with onion, only adding a couple of Tablespoons of water to cook them. I added the other ingredients at the end and let them heat through for a few minutes. And instead of the salt, I added garlic salt and italian seasoning. (the two spices I think makes everything taste better) We had it over Quorn's Naked Cutlets and I steamed some cauliflower to go with it, as it is Ken's favorite.

Valpal & the Sea of Stories: Delicious Salmon Recipe

Recipe of the Week

2008-08-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

Another easy does it recipe. Again I make double, and have enough for a few days & some for the freezer. I just can't seem to pare down my cooking to adjust from 6 to just the two of us. It seems like too much trouble if I only cook 2 portions.

Black Bean and Zucchini Burritos
Cut up one onion, cube a zucchini and yellow squash.
Season with garlic powder & italian seasonings (basil, oregano, parsley, if adding separately)
Cook until just getting tender. (you don't need to add any water... just spray with some pam)
Rinse a can of black beans and add to the mix. It is done when it's heated through.
Put on one of those big specialty burrito shells.... you know the ones with spinach or sun dried tomotoes in them, and the wheat ones are good too.
And there you have it. It is yummy with sour cream and salsa. Sometimes I add a tomato.

Make up a package of Spanish Rice as a side dish.

I owe a big thanks to my mom for instilling in me the importance of a nutritious dinner meal. Even if my day is a total bust, I still feel a sense of satisfaction if I have made us a healthy meal at the end of it.

Now Only Four Leaves A Great Gaping Hole

2008-08-01T19:05:00.001-07:00

I posted this on my other blog.... but decided to post it here as well.... part of veering away from the notion that everything on this blog doesn't always have to be about the routine, free of any difficult emotions place.

It has been a month since David took his life. The word dead, seems to roll around in the back of my throat and swallowed before I can say it. I can barely type it. It is said the first stage of grief is denial. I used to always think, how can you be in denial when someone has died? Dead is dead. And there it is in a nutshell. I startled awake in the middle of the night this week, my heart lurching in my chest…. David is dead. It’s like I acknowledged for the first time what that really meant. All of our experiences with him will now only be memories. How we’ll miss him cooking up a feast on Christmas… teasing all the cousins… making silly jokes. We were just beginning to renew our friendship this year, after years of my living away. In the past we didn’t talk often or long, but that was beginning to change. I cherished the times we had conversations where he revealed what he was really thinking. He always had an interesting perspective on things. That will be no more. So much lost just as it was beginning to be refound.

Having tried twice myself to put an end to living, I can’t help but reflect on all the joy I would have missed out on had I been successful. Watching my kids grow up to be such awesome adults. Happy days with the grandkids…. listening to all the endearing things they have to say….. marveling at their little personalities taking shape and changing. I’m so sorry he will miss all that. His life free from the chains of alcohol had taken flight. Now a new love ended just as it was beginning to blossom. It’s like a second life starting again, once your kids are grown and on their own…. adult friendships grow in the place of parental strife. He had that. So many new firsts out there waiting for him to discover are forever out of his grasp. I am saddened more for his losses than the ones I am left with.

It seems I still think about him every hour of every day. Thinking of his precious kids, knowing how they hurt. Hearing the melody in my head, Blackbird Singing In The Dead of Night…. And I can only whisper again, Godspeed, David, Godspeed. I miss you and all that you were becoming.

Recipe of the Week

2008-07-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

Ryan called me for this recipe last week and Tyler requests it every time he visits. It's an easy one (the kind I like best) and nutritious too, and you guessed it.... it freezes well. I always like to make more of things and then have a backup in the freezer for when I am too busy (ya, right) or I don't feel like cooking (more like it)...

Broccoli Chicken Casserole
Spray a 9X13 pan with cooking spray. Put a package of stuffing mix (Mrs. Cubbins herb mix is vege friendly) Sprinkle with 3/4 cup water, and mix thoroughly. You may need to add a little more water.... but you don't want it to get too soggy. Steam a pan of broccoli (I am generous with the amount) Layer on top of the stuffing mix. Then I use my favorite chicken substitute (Quorn Chik'n Tenders) and put on top of the broccoli. Thin a can of cream of celery soup with a bit of milk and pour over the mixture. Loosen the mixture with a fork so the soup kind of sinks down in.... sprinkle with cheese and there you have it. Cook at 350 for about 45 min.

(Attn: Stacey - did you see the recipe I posted for the fresh bean salsa?)

Twenty-seven, is that all it's been, years....

2008-07-24T10:07:00.001-07:00

It feels like we've been hanging around together since Kindergarten. I wrote this a couple of years ago when a friend asked me what married life was like. It's still as true today:

The trials and tribulations of married life….. Twenty-seven years later we are living the dream all young couples make, growing old together, sharing a lifetime. Aaaahh, but the beginning wasn’t so promising. My third marriage, 2 kids included, his first. That should say it all. I was six years older which then in the realm of experience was a chasm. He is steady, persistent, and thinks things through. I am impulsive, emotional, and changeable. He needs order, one task at a time. I can have projects strung out across three rooms. When something bothers him he doesn't need or want to talk about it. I must. Our biggest argument however; who was the smartest one to discipline the kids. Discord ruled and we nearly parted ways. He initiated the remedy that saved us. “Lets forget about our ideals of the perfect husband and wife, instead focus on being best friends.” I added, “Let's view each other as individuals with lives in the making, not always connected with the other. We will be learning lessons together, ones uniquely our own.” A metamorphosis occurred that led to acceptance, a blending of all those differences. A million challenges since then have pulled us apart, made us question again. In the end only make us stronger and closer.

I love the way he makes me laugh when I’m ready to crumple. How we talk and giggle or read books together in bed at night. How we say the same thing at the same time. How he is more handsome today than when I first met him. He has given my life back to me repeatedly with his care when I’m ill. I have given him tolerance, kindness, and more compassion. We do not socialize often, which suits us fine. We have common interests and separate ones, freedom in friendships. He has been the family rock. I have been the keeper of the hearts.

He has kept his promise from the beginning when I was so afraid to give marriage another try. Denise, I promise you that every year with me will be better than the year before. In thirty-five years you will not regret saying yes. (But don't start slacking now, Ken.... you still have 8 more years you can keep convincing me) In a world where so many things have gone wrong, sharing life with Ken is so right. Happy Anniversary!!