Never knowing where I'll be

Wonderful Christmas

It's just the way it should have been except we lacked any white snow this year, that's OK with me, it made traveling for everyone much safer.

Santa made his visit and the kids were so excited especially Troy who happenedto find Santa's hat that fell off him when he left the house.  Rebecca and Chris surprised us with a visit for the day and I was so happy to have the time with them.

Santa arrived at sunrise - right on time again this year, he's one amazing Santa.

I sure hope he has extra hats because Troy said he's not sending the hat he lost back to him.

I did manage to get a quick picture of some of the kids hiding on the stairway waiting for Santa to come in the door.



I've opened a new blog for my sb related items in more detail. Our group at Kitchen Keepesakes have an amazing amount of creative ideas in the plans for the New Year. There's s also a new challenge blog in process so I switching gears and detailing things on there a lot more.

Creating from the Shores

 

Almost here - and I'm almost ready

Surprising with it being such an incredibly busy year and all the time moving, packing, unpacking and getting ready I can't believe how calm it is and how prepared I am. I have no idea how but it's worked out.

I actually scrapped a couple more layouts- I have all the books done that I wanted to get done. The only thing left is to pick up a couple of gift cards and figure out what I'm fixing for Christmas breakfast.

One more for let's capture these sketches it's #112

Then this one just for fun - because  this picture makes me smile.

Good luck to all of you with your preparations.

Only a few more to go

I'll have to get a total later of how many layouts I did this year- I think I'm going to be shocked myself when I add them up. Only two more then the book for Shel and the family will be finished up.

This one is based on two challenges one from let's capture these sketches 

and the words for Scrap it with A Song which the challenge is to use a Christmas carol for the inspiration
So it's Shel on one of our Winter Hayride parties - and it was a cold one.

The papers and embellishments are mainly from my favorite kit club. Paper Bakery

Baby it's Cold Outside.

Christmas luncheon , retirement dinner and a school concert plus getting some gifts wrapped and I think my day will be filled up and another layout hopefully can get fit in.

 

Capturing a few sketches

Finishing up a few more pages for some of the Christmas presents has me searching for some ideas and some sketches so I found this great blog. let's capture these sketches and I'm using some  of them to help me get the last 8 pages I need to get completed. I mailed some of them out yesterday when I finished up Jonathon's book and here's a few more I used.

This card sketch got used for a page.



Then I used another sketch for this one:

Time to go deliver some cookies, candy and pick up some things at the store. Yesterday was a complete shop until you drop day  13 hours from leaving the house to getting home, but I got all the Christmas shopping done.

Getting ready for Christmas

I have all the layouts in the book almost and one ready to mail out. I just finished up 4 more layouts and I'll share this one. I did this one for Bob's book of photos from around the old house. He loved his horses and I really enjoyed watching them just not the care they took.  I don't think they were very fond of my taking care of them either , I was always getting them in the wrong stalls and then moving three horses back around made some interesting stories.

It's sorting in the garage today to move some more things around and then some fun in the kitchen with Julie and Cynthia - I love getting the special things ready for Christmas. It's a busy week this week, dentist, doctor, shopping, retirement party , school concert and three Christmas lunches at the bakery and the other plants.

Keeping myself busy will also keep my mind off the ones that can't be here for Christmas - my prayers are with Harrison in Afghanistan, Jonathon in Florida, Rebecca in Columbus, Kathy and Mark in Colorado, Maura in New York, Shaina in Annapolis. I love and miss all of them. 

The big dilemma and project to figure out here is the Santa visit in the new house - I'm hoping he finds us and then can find his way in and out.

Having fun with Paper Bakery, HMITM and Bird is the Word

It's a combination of the three challenges and they came together really well , I love the paper in the The Paper Bakery kit this last month and can't wait to get my next one.

I wanted to do the sketch challenge on there this session.

 

I also had the challenge to do on How Much IS Too Much

 

* A bingo card (if you don't have these in your stash, just google "bingo card" under Google Images, and you'll find a gazillion).
* Use something that you can tie--ribbons, twine, raffia, etc.
* Use at least 5 stars.
* Use punches or cutters or a shape templates.
* Use your imagination and whatever product you want to create "bubbles" on your page. 
 

The word is use on Bird is the Word - Your challenge is to use the word TIME in your layout as your title or part of your journaling. I used it in both places

Of course I found a couple of pictures of some of my favorite subjects- Rebecca and Cynthia, I love scrapping all the family, these just happen to be the two that like to get their picture taken more than the rest of them do.

 I'm so darn happy to have my sewing machine unpacked and using it again.

It just seems good to be back scrapping again.

Just had to share - some great scones

Cranberry Pecan Scones

Cranberry Pecan Scones
           Topping 
1/2 cups butter , softened
1/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1/3  cup confectioners' sugar - more if needed
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel

*Scones
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup butter (no substitutes)
1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries
3/4 cup buttermilk                                                                                                                                                                  1 Tablespoon grated orange peel
 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions for topping
In a mixing bowl, cream butter. Stir in cranberries, confectioners; sugar and orange peel; mix well.
Scones_  Meanwhile, combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add cranberries, orange zest and pecans.  Stir in buttermilk just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; gently knead 6-8 times. Divide in half. Pat each into an 8-in. circle. Cut into eight wedges. Sprinkle with some granulated sugar.

 Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks.
Drizzle the cranberry orange icing on the  top .

Almost enjoyed the rain

At least I can pretend that I do with my new fun pair of rain boots.  I'm just happy it's not snowing out!

Last evening I had a group of the girls over to have some fun things to eat, drink and just talk - nice evening with all of them.  Of course as usual getting ready for the evening was part of the fun for me, it worked out that Julie came down and helped bake which always makes it more fun. Cynthia and her friend Maddy came down and helped out also- those girls are so much fun, almost teenagers and so darn silly right now and they do love to help.

Chocolate and peanut butter cupcakes - oh these were amazing.  Below is a new cookie we tried Lemon Crinkles.

Then the girls helped make these chocolate and peppermint covered pretzels.

and we had fruit and dip,  and punch, and wine , and crackers and cheese, and gingersnaps with pumpkin cream cheese dip and on and on.

Now tomorrow it's back to some scrapping time - I'm actually going to get some time home - by myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!