A New Tradition!

Last week while I was making my gingerbread nativity the thought kept rolling around in my head, "Wouldn't this be an awesome activity with the grandkids?" I knew that the kids needed to be old enough to actually participate so that ruled out the littles. (As it turned out, Jude came to hang in the highchair and eat copious amounts of fruit and beans while Mama went to see if she could get her 2-week migraine under control)

(You know what I love the most about this photo? Yup, that family sign that proclaims- THIS is my family!)

I knew that I needed to have the gingerbread baked and ready when the kids got here to keep this from being an all day affair. My plan was to have the icing ready too... but it wasn't so I had some champion frosting tinters on the job.

Once the frosting was tinted it was time to start decorating. I love how self-sufficient and creative these kids are. I gave them some general instruction and a demonstration and they were good to go.

Well, all except Sophie. It's hard when you have tiny hands.

(I just love her pixie hair!)

I told them about my black sheep and explained how the Savior's atonement cleanses us from all our sins when we repent. I'm so grateful that I can share my testimony with my grandchildren.

When it was time to go home Christian stayed for one last photo op!

(I do love this boy!)

Now can I just say a couple of things?
(Yes, yes I can! This IS MY blog after all!)

I am one of those lucky women who got to live my dream. As a child, when I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was, "I want to be a Mommie, just like my Mommie!" I wasn't always able to be a stay-at-home-Mommie (just like my Mommie) but I got to love and enjoy my children. It is the hardest and most fulfilling job I've ever had.

But you know what? This being a Grammie is perhaps even more satisfying. (I am the Grammie-spoiler NOT the Mommie-enforcer) I recognize just how blessed I am that I can be a part of these darling children's lives!

I'm in hopes that next year I will be able to include more of our grandchildren. I do love this new tradition!

Ris'n With Healing in His Wings

Church today can only be described as a spiritual feast. It was the most wonderful blend of words, music, testimony, thoughts and hymns.

It all came together singing the closing hymn- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. When we got to the words of the second verse,

"Ris'n with healing in His wings."

 

it was all I could do to not sob. Because that is what I pray for, not only at Christmas time, but all year long.

I've talked a lot here about grieving and healing. I'm so grateful to be at this end of that path. I've experienced so much healing in the nine years since we moved to Utah.

As I contemplate other's journey on this difficult path it is always my foremost prayer that they will feel the loving arms of our Savior encircling, protecting and pouring in that healing balm of Gilead.

I bear fervent testimony that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. He came as a tiny baby, lived a perfect life and then willingly accepted all of the sins, pain AND grief of His brothers and sisters. He willingly descended below it all so that He would know how to succor His people. He loves us with an infinite love... I can't really comprehend it; but I feel it deep in my soul. I know that my Savior loves me. I know that He delights to bless me. I know that our prayers on behalf of others can call down the powers of Heaven to heal and comfort them.

How grateful I am for that healing...

Gingerbread Nativity

Our Ward Christmas party is tonight. The theme is an old-fashioned Christmas. Several weeks ago they sent around a sign-up at church asking for the obligatory *funeral potatoes* or dessert AND something new... a gingerbread house to be used as a table centerpiece. I thought, "I can do that!"

Now I don't remember what came first: the sign up OR seeing a gingerbread nativity on Pinterest. But as soon as I saw the nativity I knew that is what I wanted to do. My first thought was to make a gingerbread stable and then use the little figurines from my Playskool nativity (and trust me I didn't pay what Amazon wants when I bought mine years ago). Then I saw a set of nativity cookie cutters (again, on Pinterest) They were so cute and... HOW HARD COULD IT BE?

(Are you ready to be amused?)

The cookie cutter set arrived late Tuesday so first thing Wednesday (yesterday) morning I contacted a Facebook friend to get her recipe for royal icing (the kind that flows and then dries hard and shiny). She generously shared her recipe and tips with me. I'm so grateful for that. I took my shopping list to Wal-mart to get the things I needed, came home, made and baked the gingerbread piece (my house smells so good!). I was aware, while shopping, that I was having some minimal-brain-disfunction, but that isn't a new occurrence for me.

While the gingerbread pieces cooled I mixed up the frosting. I decided that the first thing to do was ice the two triangle stable pieces and cover then with Wal-mart brand shredded wheat so it looked thatched and set them aside to dry. Now onto the figures. I had a few problems with the learning curve working with the royal icing, but finally figured it out. I'm sure it didn't help that I only have two small tips.

After the stable pieces were dry I decided to put them together, with royal icing, just like the instructions say. Ummmm, problem- the ginormous triangle cookie cutter is not a perfect triangle, but a triangle with convex sides so there was only about one inch of contact along the side.

OK, DESIGN CHANGE- get out the serrated-edge knife and saw them straight. Now how do I get it to stand up while the icing SLOWLY dries? I ended up propping it up with some canning jars and went back to the little figures.

Hours later I carefully pick up the stable and the icing-glue immediately breaks! I'm sure it doesn't help that the frosting and shredded-wheat cover walls now weigh approximately 40 lbs!!!

DESIGN CHANGE (again)- Maybe someone else could have made this work, but after fooling around with this for the better part of 6 hours already I WAS NOT THAT PERSON! I reverted to my original two-walls-with-a-flat-roof idea. I got out my saw serrated edge knife again. Ahh, much better.

Even with the design change the royal icing wouldn't hold things together and by now I've realized that this gingerbread nativity was never going to be eaten... Bring on the glue gun! (I think that if I'd used the glue gun with the triangle pieces it may have worked)

When I was doing the last of the decorating, after Primary presidency meeting last night, I mixed up some black frosting for the the sheep's legs, noses and ears. That is when I had the idea to make a all black sheep. My mind started to roll that black-sheep idea around and I knew that little black-sheep had to be closest to baby Jesus, the redeemer of the world.

Because when it is all said and done aren't we all black-sheep in need of our Savior's atonement?

Noel Sign and Barnwood Christmas Trees Tutorial

My very crafty friend, Breanne, recently posted her darling Noel sign and wood Christmas trees on Facebook and offered to host a craft day to make them. I was so impressed with my finished products that I asked her if I could write up a tutorial for these cute porch decorations!

Sadly, I don't have any *in the making photos* to share (it was freezy-cold that day!) but I think with the directions and a few illustrations you can figure it out.

Noel Sign

Materials needed-
• 3- 4 foot x 1x4” boards (I got the good grade at Home Depot and didn’t have to do any sanding)
• 3- 9-10” x 1x2” boards
• Letters N O E L cut from Contact paper using a Cricut machine. Mine are about 8" wide (I suppose you could print letters on a computer, trace them on the Contact paper and hand cut)
• White acrylic paint (Keep in mind that you can buy the 4oz size of *trial* paint and have them custom mix your colors. I used the Behr paint and primer in one for this since I already had it)
• Red acrylic paint (I ended up using some old craft acrylic paint I had on hand. It needed two coats and I used the better part of 3- 4oz bottles)
• Staples and air compressor stapler OR other fasteners- screws etc
• Wood glue
• Paint stirrers (to be used as spacers)

Clamp all three 1”x4” boards together and trim the ends flush, only taking off a small amount so your boards are all even.

Place boards; face down, on a table or other flat surface. Make sure that the ends are all even. Use paint stirrers as spacers between the boards. Place one of the 1” x 2” x 9-10” boards horizontally. Adjust to fit the width of your sign. (My finished sign, with spaces, measured 10.5”). Spread a small line of wood glue under the cross-wise 1x2”, then staple support to back of sign with several staples. Repeat for remaining supports.

Paint the front, top and sides of the sign white. Allow paint to dry for several hours. (I have to go do something else or I get too impatient!)

Before peeling the back off of your contact paper do some preliminary spacing of the letters. When you are satisfied, remove the back and stick them to the sign.

Now here is the *Auntie P Trick*... with only a small amount of white paint on your brush, paint around the edges of the contact paper. The white paint will seep under the edges of the contact paper where it hasn’t adhered to the sign and prevent the RED paint from bleeding under. Ha! She is a genius! (You can use this trick anywhere with painter’s tape too!). Let the paint dry. (Step away from the sign!)

Now paint the front, sides and top with red paint. It may take two coats depending on your type of paint.

When dry carefully peel off the contact paper and viola! White letters on a red sign!

Barnwood Christmas Trees

Materials needed-
• Old weathered wood or pallets- any width (mine are 1x4”)
• Staples and air compressor staple gun OR other fasteners, screw, etc
• Wood glue
• The ability to cut 45° angle with a compound miter saw, or a miter box and hand saw, or cut them free-hand using a saw (that might add to the charm)

Choose a board for the upright (trunk**) part of your Christmas tree that will be as tall as you would like (as you can see, I did two different sizes)

Cut the top piece (branch) of the tree by making two 45° angle cuts to form a triangle. Flip the board vertically to make the second cut.

Measure the bottom of the triangle. Subtract 2” from that number. That will be the length of the top of second branch.

The length of the top of the NEXT branch will always be 2” shorter than the bottom of the PREVIOUS branch.

Continue cutting, remembering to flip the board vertically until you have as many branches as desired.

Starting with the top piece run a bead of wood glue on the *trunk* under that branch, then staple in place. I used a paint stirrer to get the spacing even between branches. When you’ve finished attaching of all your branches leave your tree flat until the glue has dried or it will run.

** With my first tree I didn’t cut the top of the trunk to form a triangle and since my wood is old and brittle the top piece split :(. On the smaller tree I cut the top of the trunk to give the whole piece support)

Vivian's Pincushion

If I had to make a guess I would tell you that Vivian Naseath gave me this pincushion as a bridal shower gift 43 years ago. That makes this cute little guy a long-time sewing friend.

I have several pincushions/magnetic pin holders; each with its own special purpose. Call me silly (and I am), I like to segregate my pins and needles. These particular cute, flat-headed pins are just the pip when I want to do applique or foundation piecing.

As I was sticking pins back into the pincushion last night I had a flood of memories about the sweet maker of this old friend.

Vivian and George Naseath were our neighbors and friends my whole growing up in Greenville. They were Stake missionaries and introduced the Gospel of Jesus Christ to my parents shortly before I was born. That is a gift much greater than this simple little memento of love.

When Vivian crocheted this so many years ago she glued the little circles to a piece of cardboard, which has long since disintegrated. Earlier this year I washed the little crochet rings and when I stated this sewing project (an Under the Sea quilt for baby Annabelle, Spencer and Deborah's baby due in January), I found a nice piece of rigid plastic and re-glued the circle. Now it is ready for another 43 years of happy pin holding!

Vivian and Joanie 1953 in Westwood, CA

Don't Judge Me...

Let's start with the fact that I ascribe to the adage,

Housework makes you ugly!

Then we will continue with the fact that the top of my pantry is 97.5" (over 8 feet) tall and I am only 63" tall AND I'm not 30 anymore!

So the top of my pantry doesn't get cleaned too very often. But today was the day! Luckily I have a little canister vacuum with a shoulder strap just made for jobs like this.

When we first moved to our house almost nine years ago I bought some beautiful house plants at Home Depot to go up on top! I quickly realized that I DID NOT want to drag the ladder into the house once a week to water them. So I returned them and got silk plants.

Yup this is the view from the tippy-tippy-top of my ladder. You know the place... it says don't stand on this or you will die!

Since I'm not 30 anymore I would rather be on the firm foundation of my knees *up on top* than balanced on the rung of death!

Gordon fetched and carried all of the things I needed:

• damp micro fiber cloth (OMSH was it dirty)
• spray cleaner
• vacuum
• hold the ladder
• is this even?
• is there still dust on the plants?
• I don't care if there is still dust on the plants!

Of course, I decided to do the AFTER I'd already swept the floor. Note to self: Next time do the top first and then the floor...

And by the time I was finished I'd had at least 2 hot flashes and my hair had melted flat to my head...

See! Housework makes you ugly!

THIS- This is What I'm Thankful For...

Our family tradition is to have our Thanksgiving Feast on the 3rd Sunday in November. This year it makes our Thanksgiving *very* early... but there was no complaining! In fact, there were groans of stuffed-satisfaction and compliments on this feast.

For me these types about of holidays are ALL ABOUT FAMILY! I would rather have all of my local family on ANY DAY rather than half of them or families that are stressed out about seeing everyone and eating numerous Thanksgiving dinners on the same day.

Camille and family came down early to help make our signature Orange Rolls! Oh my! These are so yummy- and my family has grown up eating them.

I told Camille, "Don't let me forget to get a family photo before everyone leaves!!

The only sad part about this photo is that some of our family is too far away to join us... maybe someday.

Good, Deer Friends

Harley and I went on a late afternoon walk to *blow the stink off*. On our was back I decided to cut into our neighborhood since there were horses, kids on skateboards and dogs our on Canyon Rd. As I was passing the Wilding's house I saw 3 deer just across the fence in Heidi's side yard. I stealthily removed my MPC (aka iPhone 5S) from my back pocket and was at the ready to capture some wonderful photos of my GOOD, deer friends (as opposed to the naughty 2-point buck who loves to vandalize my trees).

I love how alert they are; ears pointed forward. Harley is always very quiet and cooperative when we are around deer; which I don't fully understand since he whines for any other animals. I watched as the first adult jumped over the fence. She was quickly followed by this adolescent.

I almost wonder if the last deer is the mama. She is craning her neck to keep me in view.

When she sees that her baby has gone safely she follows.

Can I just say, once again, how much I love where I live?

Big Girl

One of the perks of having Fiona near by is that I get to see her frequently! That makes a Grammie happy! Miss Fi turned 2 months lasterday; which means it was time to do a photo shoot. I'm grateful to be her personal photographer!

Camille and Fiona came over after church so I could take her photos. Even though I see her frequently I'm always amazed at how much she's grown.

Fiona had her 2 month check-up today. She's gained 3 pounds 11.5 ounces and grown 3 inches!

After photos we three girls went out and did some wonderful deck sitting in the mild November sunshine. Oh, I do love these warm November days! Every on is a gift!

Oh... and just for good measure- a photo of Miss Fiona and her Grammie last Friday.

Fiona's Blessing Day

Today was Miss Fiona's blessing day! What a wonderful day! Could a little baby girl be any more precious than her?

Fiona was given a name and blessing by her Daddy with Grandpa Maynard, Grampy Lewis, Uncle Stuart and many other friends standing in the circle. What a wonderful privileged to see the Holy Priesthood in action.

Many family members came to share in Fiona's special day.

According to tradition, Grammie made her the first of her Three White Dresses. Oh, I do love this tradition. One of the ladies in Kevin and Camille's ward told them, "It's all about the dress!" I considered that a lovely compliment!

My Happy Halloween

In my "Mommie" years I loved Halloween. I made costumes, now saved for years, decorated the house to the 13's (not 9's, remember we're talking Halloween here), and made yummy Halloween treats... 

But as a Grammie much of the joy of the holiday is gone. Sadly, I've even been known to boycott Halloween, I just didn't have the heart.

Then I realized that here, in my wonderful neighborhood, I don't get the "drop off teenagers" I get all the little children that I love.

The whole knock, knock, trick or treat is a difficult time for my social little dog, Harley. He just can't understand why these children haven't come to see him...

So this year I hit on a wonderful idea... it wasn't too cold so I brought my little portable fire pit on to the front porch, started a nice fire, got my candy and iPad and I was set to enjoy the evening.

My immediate pay-back came when Jacob Arbon declared, "it's Grammie Lewis!" (all the Primary kids call me that to differentiate between the old Sister Lewis and sweet, young Sister Lewis).  I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the children AND the parents. 

Then my sweet niece said, "Looks so cozy.  It reminds me of something I would pin on my home board on Pinterest.  Very nice!" And you know, she's right.

Cascade Springs

This glorious fall day Gordon and I took a little explore up to Cascade Springs. The first time I remember visiting Cascade Springs was August 1981 with Gordon. Since we've lived here in Utah we've made another couple of visits. I've also been there with my DeLoris. (If you want to read about those trips click on the Cascade Springs tag to the right)

The last time we were here we saw moose! I was hoping to see some today, but no luck.

I love the beauty of this peaceful place.  It feeds me soul to peruse the tranquil trails and wooden walks.

I love the geology of places. As you hike up the trails that encircle Cascade Springs you get here... a large pond that just appears out of no where!

The DNR has a wonderful web page that talks about Cascade Springs.

"At the upper springs area, more than 7 million gallons of water seeps through the ground each day."

Then that 7 million gallons burbles, rushes and sings over the rocks.

As I was headed back I was met by this beauty! This tree just felt magical... I've decided that it is a faerie tree.

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Last year I ran across this recipe on Pinterest!

OMSH are these ever delicious! 

I made them last night to take to a Relief Society activity. They were a hit! So I knew I needed to share the recipe with everyone!

I got the original recipe here but my recipe reflects a few changes that I've made. I'm just grateful for the blessing of finding such an exceptional recipe!

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Makes 24-28 cupcakes


1 cups unsalted butter, softened
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 large egg, room temperature
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup BUTTERMILK (makes all the difference in the world!)
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt (omit if using regular butter)
1- 15oz can unsweetened pumpkin puree OR 2 cups


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the top of a standard 12-cup muffin pan (in case you get some “muffin top” action). Line pan with 12 baking liners. Sift the flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk to combine pumpkin and milk; set aside also.

Using an electric mixer on medium-high, cream butter and sugar together until light in color and fluffy (I really beat mine... I think this is the key). Turn mixer down to low add eggs and vanilla. Beat well to combine (again with the beating). Next, add 1/3 the flour mixture, then 1/2 the pumpkin mixture, another 1/3 of the flour mixture, the remaining pumpkin mixture, and the last 1/3 of the flour mixture, mixing to combine after each addition. Fill baking liners about 3/4 full. Bake 20 minutes OR until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (a few tiny crumbs are OK but there should be NO wet batter). Cool 5 minutes in pan, then remove from pans to wire racks to finish cooling completely. Pipe or spread on cream cheese frosting, and enjoy!

Pipeable and Not-too-sweet Cream Cheese Frosting
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla bean paste (notice the beautiful little vanilla bean flecks in the frosting?)
a pinch of salt (omit if using regular butter)
8 oz. (1 block) cream cheese, cold and cut into 6 to 8 chunks

In a larger mixing bowl, cream the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until thoroughly blended and fluffy; about 5 minutes. Add the cream cheese, a chunk at a time, beating after each addition (just enough to work it in until it’s smooth. I just turn the mixer to low and drop them in.). Scrape the sides and mix in any unmixed bits. Be careful to avoid overbeating or the cream cheese may start to break down and become gloppy. If not using immediately, chill until needed, then beat again until smooth just before using.

Cupcake / Half recipe (no need to half frosting*)
Makes 12 to 14 cupcakes


1 cup PLUS 2 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 scant cup canned unsweetened pumpkin puree 1/2 of a 15 oz. can]
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
6 Tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup PLUS 2 Tbsp sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 large egg yolk, room temperature

* I tried making a half recipe in my Bosch and it was too difficult to get it right.

Baby-Fiona Month Stickers

I mentioned that I'd made month stickers for Fiona. I finished months 1-8 yesterday before going to take her photos for month 1. Today, after preparing for Primary sharing time this Sunday, I finished up months 9-12.

I started collecting digital scrapbook papers, elements, etc. about five years ago. I have the most wonderful

never-gets-used-up-stash EVER!

I'm still amazed at the generosity of so many talented designers. Almost all of my digital papers were FREE or at a very low cost.

I incorporate polka-dots into each design and each month corresponds with the holiday of that month (ie-Fiona will be three months old in December- so red and green). I am so pleased with the results!

I made a layer template (thank you Jessica Sprague for all of the wonderful classes I took with you! I learned SO MUCH!!)

If anyone is interested I will share my template with them. Sadly I don't feel that I can share the finished stickers since I drew from so many people's digital work.

The nice thing about the digital template is that you just open it in PhotoShop then drag your digital papers above the mask and *clip* the paper to the mask.

** AND I believe in giving credit, where credit is due...

1-  Shabby Princess French Countryside FrenchCountryside_SP_paper (1).jpg & FrenchCountryside_SP_paper (6).jpg

2-  Misty Mareda @ Little Dreamer Designs mmareda_paper5.jpg, Shabby Princess FrenchCountryside_CR_paper (3).jpg

3-  Designer Digitals Jen Adams Donnelly Giving Thanks- JAD_20061112_AdChallenge_Grateful.jpg & JAD_20061112_AdChallenge_Thankful.jpg

4-  Sweet Shoppe Designs Carnival dmogstad-carnival-paper.jpg, Dirty Feet Designs aka Heather Benson (the best I could find here was a Facebook page that MIGHT be this designer) dfd-dotsgrunge-p8.jpg

5-  Shabby Princess SP_SeasonalSampler_Amore_Paper_Hearts.jpg, & SP_SeasonalSampler_Amore_Paper_Stripes.jpg

6-  Designer Digitals Jackie Eckles Breathe Nature: JHE_BreatheNature_Paper6.jpg & JHE_BreatheNature_Paper7.jpg

7- Designer Digitals Dana Zarling dz-adchall-5-4-paper2.jpg, Shabby Princess SP_RummageChic_Paper_Plaid.jpg

8-  Shabby Princess SP_OliviaCollection_Paper_VanillaFloral.jpg, Designer Digitals Jackie Eckles Breathe Nature JHE_BreatheNature_Paper7.jpg

9- Shabby Princess SP_SpringBreeze_Paper_BigCircles.jpg & SP_SpringBreeze_Paper_Stripes.jpg

10- ScrapArtist Mystery Scrap Challenge (this is what I have for the TOU but couldn't find a website) SA_muse_gmiller-acidrainbow-paper.jpg, Shabby Princess ShabbyP_Celebrate_StripedPaper.jpg

11-  Sweet Shoppe Designs Carnival: hroselli-carnival-paper-dots.jpg & aslagle-carnival-paper.jpg

12-  Jessica Sprague Type+Writer online class kit: NotebookCoordinates-1.jpg, & KHMize-PacificPoint-Stripes.jpg

(Whew, do you have any idea how long it takes to note each of these? But not nearly as long as it took these wonderful individuals to create them!)

Fiona's Polkie-Dottie Quilt

Yesterday when I did photos of Fiona, Camille wanted to start with her on Fiona's polkie-dottie quilt. That's when I remembered that I've never blogged about it.

To say that Camille loves polka-dots would be an understatement... so when I saw a quilt pattern for a table runner with random polka-dots several years ago I clipped it out and have been saving it for Camille's first baby!

I even bought some very cute Riley Blake polka-dot fabric to use on said quilt. But when I pulled all of it out it just wasn't Fiona's quilt...

What to do? What to do?

I dug into my stash and pulled out 20 different purples (granted, 4 were fat-quarters I'd bought for this quilt that didn't go with the Riley Blake fabric). I sent a photo of them to Camille and Kevin and they were very pleased with the idea of a two-color quilt.

I cut four different sizes of dots and then appliqued them onto the background. Then I added a checker-board border to finish it up. I also did a polka-dot quilting (actually I think it's called pebble quilting)

It's been finished and living at Camille's house since her baby shower in August. Maybe I'll have to do better with my blogging.

Fiona's Already a Month-old!

Maybe it's because I'm not the sleep-deprived mama but it sure doesn't seem like one whole month since baby Fiona was born! She is such a sweet little baby.

In recent months I've seen these darling month stickers that one sticks on baby's onesie to take a photo each month. What a great idea!

I was talking to Camille about this a few days ago and asked where she thought I might find them.

 Pinterest! 
 (Duh! I said the duh-part, not Camille.)

"But you could probably make them yourself!" exclaimed Camille. (Hmmm, who is sleep deprived here?)

So I went a lookin' on Pinterest and found some good ideas.

Enter PhotoShop and my whole supply of polka-dot digital paper that NEVER gets used up! Yay! (Can I just say that it used to stress me out to use my cute paper!) As I worked on the template for the basic sticker I had a brainstorm! Why not use month appropriate papers (orange for October, red and green for December, etc)?

I absolutely love that Miss Fiona has her Daddy's dimple!

But you know... even good babies get tired of Grammie taking their photo! I couldn't resist one of this darling little boo-face.

Zuppa Toscana

I made this recipe for Zuppa Toscana a few nights ago and it was a marvelous hit!!! It is a wonderful rich, hearty soup. If you like Olive Garden's zuppa you will love this. I tweaked the original recipe to make on the stove top instead of in a crockpot.

Zuppa Toscana **

1 lb. Italian sausages (use spicy to get that signature Olive Garden flavor)
4-6 russet potatoes, diced
1 onion, chopped
1/4 c. REAL bacon pieces (optional)
2 Tbsp minced garlic (about 3-4 cloves)
32 oz. chicken broth
1 c. water
1 c. kale or Swiss chard, chopped
1 c. heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp flour

Brown sausage links and onion in a sauté pan. Cut links in half lengthwise, then cut slices.

Place diced potatoes, garlic, water, and chicken broth in large dutch oven or pot. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until potatoes are almost tender. Add sausage and onions and continue cooking until potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes. Whisk together flour into cream removing lumps. Add cream and chopped kale to the crock pot, stir.
Cook another 5-10 minutes until broth is thickened. Add more cream if desired.

BEST. SOUP. EVER!!!!




** Disclaimer: I got this recipe (and photo) from Facebook posted by Jessica Lee Anderson. I don't know if she *cooked-up* this recipe or was reposting. What I do know is that this is wonderfully yummy soup and you should make some.

An Autumnal Explore

Our sweet Kevin (Camille's-kind-of-Kevin) told us he would be working up at the Timber Wolf today and asked if we'd like to come up for lunch. YES! We always love it when Kevin cooks! We dined out on the deck with this beautiful view and the warm September sun adding to our enjoyment.

As we were leaving Gordon asked if I was up for a drive up the canyon. This time we decided to take Right Fork instead of Left Fork. Right Fork almost immediately turns into National Forest land. It was a perfect fall day for a drive!

The aspens have started changing... this isn't the best specimen but beautiful nonetheless.

One of the things that I like best about this drive is all the free-range cattle. The *alpine air* must agree with them because many of them are enormous! Not fat... just BIG! I convinced Gordon to stop and let me take a photo of this cute mama and baby.

However about fifteen minutes later we came upon the KING OF THE MOUNTAIN! Holy-freakin'-cow-BULL! This dude started giving us the stink-eye as soon a we rounded the curve in the road and we didn't even think once about stopping to ask HIM if we could capture his likeness! He will have to remain in my mental photo album.

I had no idea that bovines could give the stink-eye!