Favorite Recipes

I have been working like a mad woman spring cleaning my office. So needless to say, it has consumed all of my free time. I actually think the house is raising.

I am feeling quite guilty about not being able to post due to another issue of my computer losing all it's icons, and not being able to remedy that problem. I am thinking it may time to consider a new computer.


This weekend I am celebrating my birthday while spending two full days catching up at Creative Passions Crop and Quilt Retreat in Chesaning, Michigan. The facility is a 125 year-old church, with it's original stained glass windows. There are 11 of us, doing what we all love doing--enjoying our passions--whether it be painting, crafting, beading, scrapbooking, quilting, stamping, knitting, or whatever. Last night, I even watched a DVD on my computer just to become totally consumed in relaxation. I am enjoying a well deserved change of pace.

Enjoy my latest recipe cards. I love, love, love what I call my "Magic Pan" Salad.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Get ready! Santa's workshop has been temporarily relocated to my house. I have been very busy knitting up a storm, baking, and creating little gifts made with love. If you are serious about Christmas, you know it's essential to make sure Santa feels really welcome. Don't wait until the last minute to get ready for this important visit!

Making gifts at home is powerful when you like to give presents. It helps me focus less on my own wish list, and fosters an appreciation of the gifts I will be giving away.

This sweet Christmas photo card album has been a work in progress. I purchased a kit for the cover only from my friend, Norma Kooi, possibly five years back and began the process of adding family photo greeting cards each year.

It's truly amazing how everyone changes, and what a great keepsake of friends and family. So save those special Christmas and photo cards. I think it's maybe time to bring it along to family Christmas visits this year to share.

Dear Friends,

The holidays are over before you know it,

so each year I add a few more photos

to my Christmas Card art journal.

I think about what I really enjoyed,

and a jot down maybe things

I would like to do next year.

Then I let everything else go.

Nothing has to happen exactly

according to some grand plan.

Hugs,

Nancy

I'm A Scrapbooking Dropout

Yes, I'm finally admitting it! There was a time when I used to scrapbook everything about my children's lives. I used to document every birthday, vacation, and holiday--you name it, I scrapped it. I used to shop at my local scrapbook store so often that they finally asked me if I wanted to work there. And as time passed, I worked almost three years on their "design team." When the economy turned bad, I had to move on and took the fun of the hobby homeward to play. I truly got tired and burned out from scrapbooking, and ventured into unknown worlds like "chunkie" books, artist trading cards, journals, and now digital artwork. I'm not sure if I will ever go back to scrapbooking like I used to.

Then came the blog. It seems like blogging is just a lot easier, and less expensive. And besides, my thoughts are now on display in this visual journal with the things I love. Just posting things about art, photography, my children, and new things I've tried is just a place to share what makes me happy.

At first, it seemed like my blog was a place to post a photo of something I made. Now it has a become a place to record my memories, write a story, and document my thoughts, my feelings, and new ideas. I love the fact that I can skip around and do posts out of order. In scrapbooking, you used to do pages chronologically...you know, finish the Christmas pictures before my daughter's birthay. Today I might write about a memory from a past vacation, and tomorrow it could be what to make for dinner.

My life has evolved over the past two years. My children are both living across the state. No more stories pasted in scrapbooks about school soccer games, their first cars, and broken bones. My blog is more about me, and being honest. And, as I age, I am still wondering who that really is.