Creative Chics

Every year it seems we can hardly wait for Spring….so why wait?  Today I was at Hobby Lobby and their flower stems were on sale 50% off…say no more…$12.00 and I was on my way to a new spring bouquet for my front door.

I had a black wrought iron wall hanger with a pocket in it that measures about 18″ long and was perfect with it’s nice flat back for the project.  Picking out just the flowers I want is always a pleasant and painful task…I want them all so making the choices takes me forever.  I settled on making a pink hydrangea my focal point.  The calla lilies were so pretty I had to have 2 of those and one stem of lilacs, one stem of forsythia, some small purple flowers and some apple blossoms made up my $12.00 purchase.  The hydrangea was $5.00 of that!

I got out moss, styrofoam, ribbon, the glue gun and got to work. Play!!!

In less than an hour I had a new floral arrangement on my front door, the floor swept (I always make a mess with moss) and was wishing I could think of an excuse to hang out in the hallway and admire my work without everybody staring at me!

I had a very sheer ribbon that I tied into a big bow then cut the loops to make a flatter more whispy finished look.

Got the winter blahs?  Making a spring floral arrangement is a great cure!

I am thankful that God is so good and gives us such beautiful things to love and appreciate.

I am constantly awed by His sense of creativity.

All I have to do is look around to see His incredible works of art.

Happy Sunday my dear friends!

Ok gals, I don’t know about you, but SNOW has become a really bad 4 letter word for me. I know I’m not alone. I saw the weather map this morning and we’ve all been getting dumped on it seems. This is what we woke up to this morning in our part of the midwest.

So! Let’s do something to perk our little selves up. This is always my answer. A pot of blooming bulbs, in this case hyacinths which are incredibly fragrant. They are also hearty bulbs that can be planted in the ground (as soon as it thaws) and will rebloom year after year. A nice little gift that keeps on giving and I really like that!

I’ve also bought tulips and daffodils over the years too and have done the same thing by planting them in my gardens. Of course fresh cut also works to boost the spirits. No one ever made up a rule that we can’t buy ourselves flowers ladies I get these for less than $10 at our local Price Chopper Grocer. Worth every single penny.

If you have ever knitted then surely you can relate to this sweater and my sister, Carol’s, frustration.  I believe as you read her comments below you will no doubt laugh and maybe relate to her disappointment?  Not sure that disappointment is the right word but we will use it!  

If I were brave enough I could have modeled it for you!  It was a sight to behold and an experience I hope I don’t repeat.  At least I can say I did make myself a sweater.  lol 

Hey hey hey. I’m back from sunny Mexico, all relaxed and tan. Besides the time spent beside the pool, I’d have to say whale watching was my absolute favorite experience. This picture, well first off I DO have a swimsuit on with a coverup dress over it. Second I was taking a little siesta in the sun thanks to the drowsy effect of a rather strong margarita (I’m a lightweight when it comes to alcohol) while Robert took a gazillion photos of ocean waves. I hope the snoring didn’t bother anyone, LOL.

The humpback whales were migrating and having their babies and they were SO cute and BIG! Now back to cold cold cold Kansas weather.

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Ok, a few more photos of our vacation just because I love being able to share how beautiful this place was.

You knew it was going to be a spectacular week in paradise when the cabbie drops you off in front of the hotel entrance and THIS is what you see.

The infinity pool was spectacular making it look like the pool just merged with the ocean.

Enjoying a little sippy sip of Mexican tequila in that margarita…the same one that put me to sleep on the beach later

The love of my life taking me out to celebrate my birthday. He is SO good to me and I feel so so lucky to have him.

I know so many organizations that have really stepped up to help the families devastated in the Haiti earthquake. Our church family actually sponsors a child in Haiti through Compassion International so we’ve been watching closely as rescue and clean up efforts take place.

Our oldest daughter, Tiffani, is a 1st grade teacher at Pembroke. Her class has also taken great steps in supporting the Haiti relief. We are so proud of her efforts and results, and as any good parent would do, want to brag a little too Read more about it below.

First Grade Walks To Show Love

Pembroke Hill first graders know a little more about the devastation in Haiti because one of their classmates has family in that country.  They watch the news, see the photos, and they realize that someone they know has been affected by the earthquake.

So, they decided they needed to do something to help.  After some discussion, they decided to sponsor a Walk For Love, in which they asked

for donations as they walked 25 laps on Tuesday, Jan. 26.  Because of cold weather, the walk was held in the Deramus Field House.

As they waited for the whistle to blow, the first graders anxiously lined up to begin the walk.  Parents, faculty and even a little brother joined in! As of Tuesday afternoon, the walk had raised over $5,000!  All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.

My sister, Carol,  loves to create and is quite talented at many things.  She cooks, sews, knits, crochets, quilts and on and on.  Recently we were together and she was sharing some of the things she was doing so at my request she has sent me pictures and I am going to share a few with you this week.

Aren’t they just the cutest things you have ever seen….Thanks for sharing Carol….and there is much more coming.

Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold;

the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.

Democritus

At my local Price Chopper Grocery I buy a small loaf of multi-grain bread that you bake for only 15 minutes and tastes so, so good.  Full of seeds and grains and nice brown crust, my favorite part of bread.  I knew if I baked the bread I would be crazy enough to eat the whole thing so decided I better have a pretty healthy salad to go with it.  I get so tired of lettuce salad and after opening the frig and all the cabinets made this up to go with my bread…give it a try it was really quite good.

A fresh bunch of spinach

Small can of crushed pineapple (I would have preferred chunks but didn’t have any)

Handful of slivered almonds

One thin slice of red onion (I just love this onion)

1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger

Small piece of ham steak, chopped (cooked up to 3/4 cup meat)

I opened the pineapple and drained all of the juice into a non-stick skillet and with heat on med-lo I put the clean spinach leaves in and covered with a lid for about 10 minutes.  Check on it because I didn’t time it so I am guessing.

While that is steaming I chopped up the ham and threw it into another non-stick skillet on med-hi and let it sizzle until lightly browned and smelled wonderful.

When I checked on the spinach about half way through the wilting process I added the ginger and stirred up the spinach to distribute.

Pulled down a plate and placed the spinach, ham, a large tablespoon or more of the crushed pineapple, almonds, onion and in no time at all I had a healthy salad.

Notice I had lots of real butter on my hot bread too…and yes I ate that whole loaf and I wonder why I am gaining weight?

My 13 year old grandson, Kaleb,  lives in the city, loves button down shirts, hunting, fishing, all sports but especially basketball.  He has never had a male role model so I think it is in his genes to be so “all guy” and love guy things…For Christmas he told me he wanted cowboy boots and a cowboy hat…

Wearing a button down shirt the day he told me all of this, he crossed his arms and said, “Grandma, when I grow up I am going to be a Texas businessman.”  I had to smile and tell him, “you can do whatever you set your dreams on” and hope his dreams come true…

This picture was taken Christmas day when he opened his cowboy hat…at 13 he is 2″ taller than Grandma and wears a man’s size 9 shoe.  But isn’t he handsome and oh that smile.

I couldn’t find boots that fit I could afford so I went online and ordered boots and then they were back ordered until April!!!!!!!!!!!  I was somewhat put out because when I ordered online it said, “in stock, ships next day.”  So last weekend I finally canceled the order and hit the local stores and found a pair of boots that fit his wish list, (with some extra funds from Mom and his Christmas money he received).

Then I forgot to take pictures of him in the boots but trust me he loved them.  He made me go for a walk on the walking trail so he could get used to walking in them ..he climbed up four flights of stairs several times….he made those heels smack when he walked…he was all smiles, all day….  Way to go cowboy Kaleb, you are my partner for sure.