Photo Friday "Male"

This photo was taken in MT at my niece's wedding. These are my 3 brothers with their sons - all Redfield males - through and through. I love cowboys and they are probably the reason why. Upstanding, hard working and fun, that's how they roll.

It's been a while...

I haven't felt much like posting blogs lately. There is so much going on in my life and many days I feel like a yoyo with emotions all over the place. But for those of you who like to see my food pics, I have a few new ones.

My brother Myron and sister Lisa came to visit me 2 weeks ago. Myron got me some tools at the pawn shop that my Dad used to visit. He was great friends with the owner and the employees and over the years my Mom has continued to keep in touch with them. She drops in and leaves them cookies and treats which they all love. They gave Myron the tools to give me, didn't charge us a thing, so I made them Oreo truffles as a thank you, They were very happy campers!

These are so easy to make.  You just crush up a full package of regular Oreos - no double stuff here. I do mine in a food processor so it gets really fine.  Then you mix in 8 oz of cream cheese and mush it all together - it's easier to do with your bare hands rather than a spoon.

Then you roll bits into 1 inch balls and refrigerate them for about an hour.

Then you melt bark chocolate and dip them individually to coat each ball.

And here are the little gems that are so, so good!

 

In my yard this week I have vines that we planted about 2 years ago. They have taken off and started blooming like crazy. They smell good. are pretty, and the bees love them. All good things and a nice way to start out 2014 in my flower world.. Enjoy!



Christmas Baking - Just Can't Help Myself

When I was kid, my Mom always made Christmas cutout cookies. She used my Grandma Slife's recipe I think, the same one use still. Each of us 7 kids would get a ball of dough to roll out and use whatever cookie cutter we wanted. I remember it being quite a mess but lots of fun too. I don't remember the decorating part but I do remember how good they tasted.  When I had my own kids, I continued this tradition. Here's a picture of the boys from about 1985 - they were such cuties! And so much help with the cookies. I think Nick has a bit of frosting on his cheeks. We always made sure there were some set aside for Santa.



Yesterday I made my cookies - alone this time - so I could give them away to friends and family - and have a few for me!  My life has been  mess lately (more on that in a later post) but if I can be busy with baking or gardening, I'm still happy.

Cutting out the cookies.

Ready to decorate - this was a mess. I cleaned my kitchen twice yesterday but today I found all kinds of sprinkles on the floor and had to clean it again. 

They do look nice though. I hope someday to be  able to make these cookies with my grandkids.

Cookies and PB candy ready to deliver.

This is the PB candy - so easy to make and so Yummy!

And just in time for Christmas these pretty flowers are blooming in my back yard - gotta love AZ weather!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Photo Friday - Plant Kingdom

 The water drops on this rose were so amazing that I had to get a photo.

My Sketch Journal

For those of you who are friends of FB, you have seen some of my sketches.  What most people don't know is that they are actually part of a journal.  I've never been very good at journaling. I had a diary when I was in Jr. High I think, and I mainly kept track of what I wore to school so I didn't wear the same outfit again before the required length of time had passed - I don't remember what that time frame was, but I do know it seemed really important.  Now I don't care so much and I realized that other people don't either. I asked a friend a few weeks ago if I had worn a certain blouse the week before and her response was, "I don't know, I don't even remember what I wore 3 days ago." She is the one we all call the Fashion Police so that put some things in perspective for me.

But I am off the subject... oh yes, my journal.  About 2 years ago I decided that I wanted to start doing more of the artwork that I used to do before kids and life got in the way.  I did some pencil drawing but was pulled back to watercolors which I had loved doing when I was in college. Last Christmas my Mom gave me back a watercolor that I had done for her when I was at MT State and I realized how much I enjoyed that medium. I had also found a blog on line which I liked to read - for the artwork. The artist/journal blog is written by Jenny Frith and you can see it here Jenny's Sketchbook

I went to Michaels and found this nifty sketchbook that you can do watercolors in. It even comes with a paintbrush strapped inside - very handy!

 

Bill had given me a box of watercolors for my birthday, and I had a ton of brushes left from other projects over the years, and some I inherited from Bill's great aunt. I love this set.

 

 

I also found some watercolor pencils that are fun for doing small projects.

Now I try to journal every day. It can be anything, but I'm trying to keep track of important things like when I order something online, what flowers/plants I planted and when, if I'm sick, took a day off, went to the doctor, got my haircut, etc. With our hectic lives it is hard to keep track of everything if I don't write it down.

 

Yes, I have days where all I write is that I'm sad... and when I see this I know that I still have work to do on me and my relationships.

 

 I keep track of where I've gone and what I've done - like our trip to NYC in March.

 

And my grandson's birthday party in April - and what my garden is doing.

I try to keep track of gratitudes too - I'm not as good at that as I should be. I should write down at least 3 a day, but I do forget how blessed I am - don't we all?

And sometimes I just doodle - I found an art book and a calendar that had the top pictures in it - I'm pretty good at copying other's work.  Now I'm trying to branch out more and do my own work - like the picture at the top of this blog.  I'm hoping to get better at all this, both the art and the journaling - check back in a year and see how I'm doing :0)  I just bought a new journal for 2014.

 

 



Photo Friday - In the Wild

Walking in the Woods

Photo Friday - High Tech

Those of you who know me know that I am about the least "high tech" person around so I had to dig deep to find something to photograph. This was one of the engines on display at the NASCAR track on Sunday.