• Art - Blog - Creativity

    T Tuesday: sneak peek edition

    Last week I worked on a piece for possible publication and sent it off to meet a deadline. I wish I could show the whole piece because I was so happy with the way it turned out.

    This is just a piece of a corner.

    I’ve also been working on my scrappy quilt again. I decided to change how I am doing the binding so I needed a solid border around the whole quilt. I got that finished yesterday and started making the binding. I’ll share my quilt progress in another post.

    I also had to share my traditional gift to my neighbor for his New Years eve birthday. They generally have a party with all the neighbors invited. It’s really great since it’s right across the street. No driving required.

    Each year I give him some sort of beer but in recent years I’ve been trying to be clever about it. Last year was Rein-beers.

    And this year I got him some Canadian beer…of course, it’s cold there so they needed some hats to keep them comfortable.

    I’m still chuckling at the little hats although I am easily amused.

    Today is more sewing, laundry and cleaning. And shoveling. It’s currently snowing and we are expecting 2-4 inches. Hopefully it will stop and the roads will get cleared before the teen has to drive home from school. It was bad enough that he took off for school as the mess was beginning. The grey hairs have started from worry with a kid driving. Glad I’m blonde…..I should be able to go gracefully into grey. HA!

    What are you doing today?

    T stands for Tuesday

  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    Devoted

    I worked on a new journal page yesterday in the cold basement. UGH! The furnace struggles to keep the lower levels warm in these constantly below zero temps. Here’s a current weather screen shot.

    Today is actually warmer than it has been the past few.  It took a bit of devotion to creativity to ignore the chill and create.

    devoted art journal page

    The word popped out at me from a dictionary page in my stash. I’m using my word of the year every day!  I am renewing myself.

    devoted art journal page

    I did a bit of journaling on the page with a few words and phrases that will continue to inspire me on my quest for renewal.

    This maybe be the very last entry in my polka dot journal…it will be adhered to the inside back cover. I’ll have to see if there is possible room for one more page after this one is placed.

    Speaking of devotion and renewal…I am happy to say I’ve been not only sticking with the goals I’ve set for myself but am enjoying it. Having a positive attitude about it and making strides in the right direction.I’m keeping on task with the help of my little notebook and therefore accomplishing more.

    As well as trying to make every day look like this one…

    This was my best day so far of the year but we are only 5 full days in and I’ve lost 4 lbs! Super excited! Let’s keep this momentum going!! My next goal is to hit all “greens” on the goals two days in a week. I figure if I set small goals I’ll have a better chance at success therefore not setting myself up for failure as I have so many times in the past.

    Have a great day!

  • Around home - Blog - Kitchen

    T Tuesday: rum cake edition

    This year for Christmas we changed things up a bit.  In the past several years we’ve had a Christmas brunch and it worked out very well since the kiddos weren’t too great at waiting to open presents. In those days I think they would have preferred everyone spend the night and get up at 6am.  Since they are older now, we decided moving back to a more traditional time for our family was best. That meant we’d need a dessert.

    I decided to make a rum cake. I’d made this one before and it was so yummy. The recipe comes from a cookbook called Booze Cakes that I checked out from the library.  The first time I made it I used a vintage Nordic Ware bundt pan in the classic bundt shape. This time I decided to get a little adventurous and use my fancy bundt pan since it looks a bit like Christmas trees.

    rum cake

    As it was baking, I was realizing that the tree pan was smaller than the classic pan…I kept watching it in fear that it would run over as it baked. I was lucky…

    rum cake

    Look how beautifully it came out of the pan! I took a lot of time preparing the pan in hopes that it would work.  So cute!

    rum cake

    Remember I mentioned this was from a cookbook called Booze Cakes…yeah…that bottle was full when I started and I wasn’t sampling. I don’t even like rum in drinks…but I sure do in cake!!!

    Just before serving I dusted the entire cake with powdered sugar giving it the appearance of snow. I totally forgot to snap a photo though. You’ll just have to take my word for it. It was yummy and boozy.

    The kids head back to school after winter break so I’ll be all by myself for a change…well I’ll still have Marvin to keep me company.

    Marvin

    What are you doing today?