layouts, layouts

We're back form a quick trip to visit my mom and stepdad in the Az. mountains.

It was a relaxing trip.

Had a day just about to myself so I scrapped!

Here's one of a dandelion in Pinetop, Az.

I think I have a new favorite...my friends baby.

Trying to get a family photos.  Son was being playful.

A cute crop of the family photo.

Credits here.

Which one...

We need your help.

As suggested by a reader we are going to enter two of our daughters photos into the local fair.

Here's where you come in.

We can't decide between two photos.

Which one should she enter?

A or...

...B

Thanks!

quick tip

quick tip for ya.

taking a dish to the potluck or party and want to make sure you get your utensil/s back.

tie a small ribbon on the end.  volia, you will be able to pick you spoon out in no time.

grandma's jello dessert

as long as i can remember every thanksgiving, christmas, family get together someone made this dessert. 

you get the family talking long and the jello fiascos are sure to come up...ahem like, having to drink it through a straw and so on.

though i am not always faithful and surely not on holidays, i do try to make this enough that the kids will know it's a family recipe.

perfect for the summer, good for you too. 

i am making half the recipe here.

you know desserts are good when the goodies are falling off!

Grandma's Jello Dessert

2 big boxes strawberry jello

bananas (about 8-9), sliced

frozen strawberries (2c per jello box)

walnuts/pecans (walnuts are the best), coarsely crushed

2 small containers sour cream, lower fat versions work just as fine

1. Boil enough water for one box of jello.  2. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan. (glass is good to see all of the layers)

3. Add 1 box jello , mix until dissolved.  4. Add 1/2 frozen strawberries.  5. Put into frig until set.  (this is the longest step.)  6.  Spread 1/2 sour cream over set jello. 7. Top with sliced bananas, then add walnuts.  8. Mix boiling water and 1 box of jello and the rest of the frozen strawberries.  9. Then pour over above ingredients.  10.  Place in frig to set.  11. Repeat steps 6 & 7.  12. place in frig until ready to serve. 

no creative title

i really don't have a good title for this one.

we went driving in the mountains here. 

all of the brown you see is usually green.

it's just much too dry here.  thankfully the mountains have been getting some rain.

desktop quality

Our daughter LOVES to take photos.  Here are a few desktop worthy from here little point and shoot.

these are all unedited.

doing some scrapping

i am guesting for a couple of places/deisgners this month.  here are some of my latest layouts.

The first two are by The Great Outdoors by WM[squared] at ScrapMatters.  (oh the first one has some of my old kit in it Falling for Autumn.)

Sweet Love Mix-a-Kit by WM[squared]

green and serene by WM[squared]
template (modified) by paislee press

template by taylormade

everything else by TDC around the world collab kit.

i really love how this one turned out.

saturday morning by sugarplum paperie

saturday morning by sugarplum paperie

missing you by tami miller

mary mary quite contrary

how does your garden grow?

It grows great except for a particular unnamed basset who keeps digging in the garden.

See the paws prints below?

She has dug up our cucumber, green beans and ruined a few of our greens.

She is not allowed in the backyard anymore!

 Here's our squash.

Tomatoes, green bell peppers and asparagus. 

OH!  It rained last night!!!!!  Seriously, almost didn't remember what rain was!

Sam's Update

Awhile back I posted that we are going to be trying out Sam's Club to see if it helps on the grocery bill.  You gave me advice and tips.  Thanks.

I felt I needed to update you.  Sorry I have no photos.  I always want to just get in and get out.

It seems to be working!  Though the drive is a bit long, we have noticed a difference.

Here's what we buy:
Everytime-
POMS toilet tissues (we seriously got through a-LOT)
bottled water
milk (daughter doesn't like the taste, but mama likes the price)
bread

as needed/occasionally-
crackers
vegies/fruit
instant oatmeal
powered drinks
brown sugar/splenda packets
ground meat (not to daughter's liking)
other meats
gum (gotta have the gum)
dishwasher soap
detergent

Here's my stragedy:  we buy the items on our everytime list, then depending what is left on my main grocery list I get whatever items I can from the other list.  So this time I will get ground meat and detergent, the next time the gum and ... well you get the idea.

cherry, cherry

our cherry picking adventure has lead to a number of cherry recipes.

here are two more.

our own version of cherry limeade.

the amounts are all "about".  you can tweak it to your taste.

Cherry Limeade Concentrate

2 cups pitted cherries

1 cup sugar

about 10 limes, juiced=1-1 1/2 cups lime juice 

put all in blender and liquefy.

Add about 1 quart water to half of mixture.  Stir.

Add more concentrate or water to your taste.

 (i l.o.v.e. these ice tea jars.  we can't find them anymore, only plastic.)

another one that is to your tastes.

Easy Cherry Jam

adapted from David Lebovitz

Ingredients:

Cherries, stemed, pitted and chopped

Sugar

Lemon juice

Directions:

In a medium size pan add chopped cherries, lemon juice cooking on med-high heat for about 5 minutes.  Add approximately an equal amount of suagr as to cherries.  Reduce the heat.  Stir everything until sugar is dissolved.

Cook for an additional 15 minutes stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat.  Will thicken as cools.

*We had a few strawberries in the frig needing to be used.  So I chopped them up and added them.  Good!

cherry cobbler

awhile back i sort of made my own cherry cobbler.

butter the pan.

cut about 2 cups of cherries in half and added 1/4 c orange juice. (i later added another 2 cups.)

covered with 1/4 cup sugar.

1/4 tsp cinnamon

ended up adding more cherries for a total of 4 cups

topping from a recipe out of a magazine.
1/4 c brown sugar
1/2 c oats
1/2 c flour
1/4 tsp salt
mix together
1/4 c butter, cut in.

bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.

yields: 8 servings

strawberries and ugly tomatoes

we went to a surprise birthday party for one of the ladies in church on the 3rd of july and daughter and i made these.

i know that they are all over the blog world.  we brought home empty dishes.

hubby told me about an ugly tomato contest and i think these two just may qualify.  this one has a line that goes around and around.

 see, all the same line.

is this ugly or what?

we do grow pretty tomatoes too, all on the same bush.

have a great weekend.

Almond Butter Cookies

Do you want the best tasting "peanut" butter cookies around?

 

 Try this recipe...the cookies were gone in like two days.

And that was holding everyone back.

I had a few dark chocolate chips sitting in the freezer, so I melted them down and glopped drizzled it on the cookies.

Recipe adapted from Betty Crooker Picture Cookbook (hubby's grandmothers).

Almond Butter Cookies

Mix together thoroughly....
1/2 c soft butter flavored shortening
1/2 c almond butter
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 egg

Sift together and stir in....
1 1/4 c flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt (can be omitted)

I am sure you know the next few steps.
Flatten cookies with fork dipped in sugar...crisscross.
Bake at 375 degree F or until set for 10-12 minutes.
Makes about 3 doz. 2 1/2 " cookies.

Enjoy!

I crafted!

First off, these photos are totally unedited and not the greatest. Sorry.

While I liked the wreath at it's former state, I wanted a change.

So, I took everything off.  Gathered some sticks from the yard.  (Thank God for windy days.)

Started covering it with reindeer moss from the Dollar Tree.

Made about 12 little paper roses out of sheet music. 

Hot glued the sticks.  Then added the roses. 

There she is.

The roses are the same color as the brick...go figure.  I don't l.o.v.e it, but it's a change.

OH!  We decided on Charlie for our new dog's name.  No special meaning.  We just kept calling him that and he seems to answer to it.