Retirement is Sweet!

Oh peeps! Two miracles have happened. I have retired from school nursing and I have a computer that works. It's been way to long since my last post.

This is a flash back to 1959.  My little sister, Sabrina was born on Dec. 23. This picture was taken several weeks later.  On the couch are 3 teachers. Mrs. Galloway and her daughter, and Neil Asper.  Mrs. Galloway is holding Sabrina. On the floor is me, my sister Patsy, and my mom.

This is a test post. I'll need to learn how to upload my pictures.....another day, perhaps. I have a grandson that wants me to play. They grow up so fast.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!    ~Lynda

Cape San Blas

 Vacation this year took place up in the Florida panhandle. Cape San Blas is an interesting, remote area approx. an hour east of Panama City. We rented a cabin that was between the beach and bay.

Isn't he the cutest? Love my grandson.....this was one happy YaYa.....spending a week with the grand!

Goodness knows.....we look like a caravan of gypsies walking across the street to the beach. You know yourself how much "stuff" you need to carry to enjoy a few hours.....and toys to dig in the sand!

It was a nice long walk! We burned a few calories in the Fl heat getting there! It was around 92* mid day.....but the breeze from the ocean made it nice!

Big payoff! A beach to ourselves. This one is so far off the beaten path! Thanks Grant for scouting out a secluded area for us to enjoy.

Just a few folks way down the beach......

The above photo was taken by my son just before sunset. We had walked out the back door and through some woods to the empty bay. The tide was out. We walked in our bare feet(he had some convincing to do) out to an island. The water was ankle deep. He told me to just watch for horse shoe crabs. The small crabs scampered away quickly....it was still risky....talk about getting out of your comfort zone!

In the bucket.....empty shells.....

The small sting ray we observed......swam away!

The crystal clear water allowed you to see every step! Above another horse shoe crab....we saw several!

Hundreds of small crabs....everywhere.......

Grant says "They don't pinch much".......yeah...I was not going to test their strength!

A short walk back to the cabin! So thankful this was a "dog friendly" rental! We enjoyed our stay!

Thanks Whispering Pines of Cape San Blas!

Enjoy your summer!

~Lynda

Art Journal Class

Art Journal Class @ Whim So Doodle

This extraordinary scrapbook store is an hour away in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. I have wanted to visit the store for some time now.....the perfect opportunity presented itself ......a class with Stephanie Ackerman! Although quite steep $ for a "school salary" nurse I decided to take the plunge.....I was not disappointed. The first 3 hours was spent painting with acrylic and Tim Holtz distress paints. We also stamped and stenciled each area. She also told us to journal or write quotes inside the circles with a white,uni-ball SIGNO broad pen. This pen writes like magic and the pigment ink dries perfect! Who knew?...........When I finished the large piece of canvas I held it up for a pic with our teacher! She is the best instructor!

THEN....my daughter and I also signed up for the afternoon class to make the paper for the inside journal using the gelli plate to print our own paper.  It was a design experiment for sure.....

Drum roll please......

This was so much fun..... she also had several scripture quotes to cut out and place anywhere in the journal. Each person made there's different but we could use her model if we wanted.

We also used some washi tape to attach the print outs. I liked her blue with red cherries (Mary Engelbreit fan) the best.

One interesting tidbit: When you gesso the canvas.....use a plastic card(old one or used gift card) to spread the gesso irregularly. The paint will have different hues when it dries. The gesso makes the paint go further and have a more vibrant color.

Above: paper results after gelli printing.

Lindsay did a better job of painting her canvas, leaving areas natural for a more vibrant contrast!

This store was so interesting we had to visit again last Saturday just to absorb more of it's content and shop for a Bible.....google Stephanie Ackerman to view her Bible journal class. They carry the largest selection of Tim Holtz stamps, stencils and dies of any store I have EVER visited! The separate room of material(fabric) is a dangerous place to be! If you watch videos of France Papillon they also carry several items she uses in her journal videos...paint, inks, dyes, etc.    I hope to visit again in September to take another class.

What have you made this summer?

I am on Pinterest and You Tube video restriction until I clean up my craft room!

Blessings! ~Lynda

Summer 2015

I have been out of school for 1 week. Time has flown by.....as summer usually does if you don't journal and watch your time. I took a class at a craft/scrapbook store is St. Pete, FL that was quite fantastic! I will share the project when I learn how to navigate the iPad and upload pictures since my computer is ill.....technology is sometimes difficult to keep up with if you don't know how to fix it!

I plan on taking some photos of the coast when we visit Cape San Blas next week! Join me will you? We will do vacation together....it won't be Paris, but it will be nice!

~Lynda

Happy Siblings Day!

Happy Siblings Day.....to my sweet sisters! It has been 2 years since we visited Paris together......time for another trip! Rick Steves took me to Italy last night on PBS....I think it is time we go! Happy Trails this lovely spring weekend!~Lynda

Celebrating TWO years on the planet!

Hello folks!

     The highlight of the year so far was my grandson's second birthday! I love any excuse to take a few days from work and drive the ten hours for a visit.

The slide purchased by Gigi proved to be a huge hit!

 What a grand time we had! My name was suppose to be "Gram"....but he finally was able to call me "YaYa".....I'll take it!  What a JOY he is to watch! Did your grandchildren name you?
        You should enjoy each and every birthday.....and every moment with the GRANDS!

                                      ~Lynda

A Wedding Shower

The new year has been busy with more weddings and showers. I love helping with them even when my contribution is very small

Today's happy couple will be married in April. I completed the banner with the last name just before the shower began. I used the Storybook Cricut  cartridge to cut the letters. A paper doily and small flowers from the Martha Stewart punch completed the decorations on a craft paper banner, cut to resemble the burlap and lace decorations.

I used an 8 1/2 X 11 piece of craft paper for each letter in the banner, marking the middle of the bottom halfway point(4.25) and cutting from 1 inch below the top toward the middle point to make the triangles.....add the doily with stick glue, paper flowers in green, yellow, and blue with stronger glue and rhinestones on the salmon letters ....you have to have some bling!

The other decorations used were borrowed from some other crafty gals.....white tulle, salmon flowers and burlap bows tied together for a decorative garland that adorned the tables and mantel.

The cake was a Karen Malloy masterpiece.....a local baker that has a reputation for making beautiful cakes that taste as good as they look. 

Congrats Jason and Heather!

Happy Crafting!

~Lynda~

Paris Bebe Shower

Today we gave a shower for a friend's daughter. It was a Paris bebe shower....ooh la la!   The cake pops were pink and black.

The diaper cake was topped with a French poodle....pink, of course.....

My favorite space was the fireplace, the focal point......Bebe Girl wrapped presents, Destination board,

and the Bonjour Bebe welcome banner looked superb.

Fresh flowers on the tables.....

wrapped books topped with a black lace crown and cute socks.....

It took all six of us to pull this off!

The food signs were in French and English! Don't you love the PINK deviled eggs?

Thanks Michelle!

Oops! I forgot to put the dip in the bowl for the veggies.....before I took the photo.....

The cake tasted as good as it looked.....three layers!

We had an adorable helper!

It took her 2 hours to open her gifts! Blessed indeed!

How did you spend your Saturday?

~Lynda~

Time out

I am sure you are wondering what happened to me since I have been missing you.....

 

I began a new job this year......and it has taken me by surprise! I hope to get a handle on it soon so I can return to crafting!

The LORD has given me a new challenge, and I hope to be found faithful and able to trust him for the answers! I ask for your prayers! 

" Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short that it cannot save;neither is His ear so dull that it cannot hear." Isaiah 59:1

Enjoy fall....hopefully coming soon!

~Lynda~

Mexico Beach and Apalachicola

  A long weekend to the Florida panhandle was part of our summer vaca this year. This beach is approximately 1 hour east of Panama City Beach. There is no shopping and very few restaurants. We were glad we planned ahead and brought a supply of spaghetti, steaks and salmon for grilling. The VRBO condo was nice enough and had a complete kitchen.

We had beautiful weather on Thursday and Friday....followed by rain the rest of the weekend.....

Above: the beach is reflecting the setting sun. The multicolored umbrella lights up!

We drove east to view the town of Apalachicola, a small town where oysters were king.....I remember my dad going fishing there in the 1960's.

I am not sure if this boat is functioning or just for photos....

 We celebrated our 40th year anniversary on July 12.

We haven't changed much......haha!

Enjoy your summer! I have THREE weeks left before reporting for duty!

~Lynda~

Buttermilk Biscuits

Bonjour peeps! I trust you are enjoying your summer. After an afternoon of watching Junk Gypsies.....I decided to try making biscuits from scratch.

Recipe: Preheat oven to 425*

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
7 TBSP unsalted butter chilled in freezer,cut into thin slices
3/4 cup cold buttermilk
2 TBSP buttermilk for brushing on top of biscuits before baking.

Whisk flour,baking powder,salt and soda in mixing bowl. Cut in butter. Make a well and pour in buttermilk.  Stir turning dough onto floured work surface. Pat into rectangle, fold into thirds, flatten out into rectangle X 3. Roll 1/2" thick and cut out 12-14 biscuits. Brush with buttermilk and bake 425*'for 15 minutes.

I baked mine on a seasoned Pampered Chef stone.

Notice I did not brush the middle heart biscuit.

It made a difference.... you can see in the bottom photo. The buttermilk blends all the stray flour and browns the tops nicely.

They tasted great.....even my husband approved!

I think I have plenty to share with the neighbors!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a splendid summer!

~Lynda~