Friends..

""God saw a tear and kissed it away with the smile of a friend" I have had the wonderful pleasure of having my best friend stay with me for the last five days.. She is 65 and I have known her since I was fourteen.. She comes and spends a few days with us every now and then.. my kids love her and my husband enjoys her visits too. We always get so much accomplished when she comes.. This time, we cleaned out closets, my scrapbook room and she LOVES to iron.. I hate it.. She HATES to cook.. I love to cook.. so I cook her wonderful meals and she irons for me.. we visit at the same time.. anyway, I had this MF vintage label and it just seemed perfect for a card for her.. She left this morning and I sure miss her already!!

We love chocolate chip cookies..

and I love a challenge.. The kids and I watched Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the foodnetwork the other night.. He was doing chocolate chip cookies and the throwdown was with Levain Bakery in New York.. Their cookies looked so yummy the kids and I decided to make some, but no luck in finding the recipe.. We did find a blog where several people were trying to copy it and I think they were successful!! Made the Chocolate Chip Walnut cookies this morning. and My oh My!! These are not cookies for the faint of heart..Each one weights 4 ounces and are great big, fill your tummy cookies.. the kind where you almost need to share one with someone.. Some of these babies are going to making their way to the vet's office (need to run and get dog food for the diabetic dog!) the H3 Petfoods (need for for the "non-diabetic" dogs) and to the lady at the book mobile (she always saves me the newest books out by my favorite author!!) These cookies ought to keep me in good stead with all of them!! AND, I love sharing!! Give them a try, if you dare!!

Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups AP flour
3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 to 1/2 tsp baking soda
12 ounces (2 cups) chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate)
1 cup walnuts

Cream butter and sugars until just mixed.. Add eggs and dry ingredients.. Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.. You may have to mix by hand.. Dough should not be real sticky.. Divide into 12- 4 ounce portions and bake at 350 for 23-25 minutes.. Don't overbake..

SNOW!!

It has been beautiful here the last week.. 46 degrees and sunny. I even saw people wearing shorts.. and today.. I woke up to snow. as I sit here I see big white fluffy flakes coming down... and it is even sticking.. YUK.. I love the snow, but we have had so much of it this year that I am ready for it to be spring!! I made this springy looking card for my sweet sister.. Used some of my scraps of Wild Asparagus paper and a MF sticker.. not sure all the colors go together perfectly, but I needed to put that flower there!!

Gothic Arch Sunday!

I am so pleased to have been asked to host Gothic Arch Sunday! I chose "Old School Days" as a theme and this is my take on it! Can't wait to see all the lovely arches you come up with.

Some oldies, but goodies..

I was cleaning up my computer and found some cards I made several months ago. They are all favorites of mine..and I don't think I have posted them here yet!
The first is an address book I made as a teacher gift.. The second is made using a paperbag studios stamp and a paper bag as the base.. loved that look! The third and fourth I made using some vintage stickers I found.. I made a series of "life's simple pleasures" cards for my parents last year. one a week.. (well it started out that way, but ended up being more like one a month!!) I tried to make them using things they took simple pleasure in..

Happy Hearts Day!

Not much happening here today. Making some heart sugar cookies for the kids.. I awoke to a beautiful vase of red roses!! What a nice treat.. and cards from husband and children..

While this ATC card wasn't specifically for Valentine's Day, it has a heart and I thought it was appropriate! It is for a swap I am in and the theme is "kitties". I found this image on my luna cd and just loved it.. I stamped and embossed the background in gold..printed the image and then sewed around it. took a little piece of lace and a sweet heart button and attached to the top.. In case you can't read the quote, it says " Miss Kitty--Dancing to the music in her heart"
Have a wonderful day with your loved ones!!

In Memory

Four years ago today I lost my little brother. He was only 37. While time doesn't take the pain away, it does help ease it. I spent much of the day with my parents.. just visiting, doing everyday things..We all miss him so much still.. Dear Bruce, we miss you so.