Beautiful flowers

Below are some pictures of my flowers that are now blooming.  We just about have the mulching done, but there is always something to do isn't there.  Doesn't leave me much time for card making right now, but hopefully soon.  I love my flowers thought!!!

 Astilbe

 Astilbe bed

Clematis

 Hydrangea and Lily

Hydrangea

 Lily

 Jon loves mowing and he sure is getting to do a lot of it this year with all this rain.

 Orchid Lily

 Peach Lily

 Yellow and red/rust Lily

Boy's Birthday Cards

We are celebrating Branch's 2nd and Benaiah's 4th birthday today.

This picture is our Granddaughter Kelsey's family at Easter.

Todd is holding Branch and Benaiah is in front of Kelsey.

They are growing up so fast. I will try and get individual pictures today.

Beckon and Bleydn are also in the front row.

They are a beautiful family.

This card is for Benaiah.  I stenciled it using Dream Weaver Stencils, added the eye and a spider.

White and black embossing paste was mixed to get the color of the elephant.  I did not smooth

out the paste to give a rough skin appearance.  I thought the map looked good with it for interest.

I am not sure why the card doesn't look straight, but it is.  Had to be the angle of the way I took the picture.

Using Dream Weaver Stencils and blue embossing paste I created Branches card.  I added some
silver itsy bitsy little silver balls and an eye for interest.

Sadness

When we get up in the morning we never know what the day will bring and Monday brought such sadness for our family. Our Great-nephew Shawn, Cathy and Bradford Willett's son took his life. We are heart broken and words can't even express our sorrow and shock. He was 24 years old with such a good life ahead of him. 
We are praying for comfort for Cathy, Brad and Scott (his twin brother) We would appreciate any prayers that you might lift up for our family.
Thank you.

Some of you have met them as Cathy always came down to my workshops.  They are from Wisconsin.
I am very, very close to them, so this hurts like the dickens.

Birthday Card

Alyssa is one of our adopted granddaughters.  She will be 14 this Sunday.  She has beautiful red hair and gorgeous freckles.  She is going to be a stunning teenager.  She loves pink, so I made the card below for her.

The front of the card.  I found this card stock in Florida that already had the 3 holes cut out and I thought it was perfect for a simple kind of card.  I think Alyssa will love it.

The heart and butterflies are Martha Stewart's punches and the embossed flowers are old Sizzix embossing pad.  

The inside of the card.

It was good to sit down to my craft table again.  I will be getting lots of practice as I have so many birthdays coming up this next month.  My cards will probably a little more simple than what I normally make, just because of the time restraints.  I still don't have my annuals all planted as it has been very cool in Indiana this week. (36 one night).

More Spring Flowers

Lupine is one of my favorite flowers and I am so blessed that they self seed each year giving me many new plants the next spring. I love them too because they bloom so long. Our waterfall is very soothing when we sit out by the pond. I don't have my annuals planted on it yet. The pinks (Dianthus) are such a nice addition to my garden and they smell wonderful.

 Lupine

Dianthus (pinks)

Back home

We are back home in Indiana.  It has been a crazy couple of weeks since arriving, but we are finally getting into the swing of things I think,  I have not had any time to do any crafting, but yesterday I filled in my May, June and July calender and discovered I best get busy making cards,  I think I have 16 birthdays during those 2 months,  So, between flower planting and house keeping, I need to take time for cards.  I have at least 6 kids cards to make, and I find those the hardest,  How about you?

I have been working in my flowers0 to get them in shape.  Last fall, I cleaned and thinned them out, so it has been easier, but my goodness I think the weeds grow right behind me as I hoe.  Below are some of the beauties that are blooming now.

 Jon and Whiskers riding around on my garden chair.  I use it to pull my garden wagon around which is filled with my tools, fertilizer, water buckets and everything I use in the garden.  I will get a picture of it later.

Bulgaria, blooms early and has beautiful foliage.  Not sure that is the correct name.

 My first Lupine opening up this morning,  I have about 30 plus plants that have self-seeded and will be gorgeous next year,  A plant seems to only last about 3 years though.

 Grape Hyacinths.  Very early and makes a gorgeous border. 

 My first Lilac bouquet.  Makes the house smell so wonderful!!!

Primrose that I brought from Mom's garden,  I could never get them to grow while she was alive.  I know she would be super pleased as she loved them and wanted so much for me to be able to grow them.

 Another Primrose from Mom's.

A new tulip for me.

New tulips.  Aren't the beautiful! 

 These new tulips look like small peonies!

 Whiskers waiting patiently  for a ride.

Tree Peony!

Pictures of our Villa progress

It has been quite a while since I posted, but we have been working very hard to get our Villa into shape and make it ours.  We have moved things out and moved things in,  I still have to arrange the kitchen cupboards (drawers are done) before we leave this coming Friday.  And there is so much that I want to do, but will take my time and do it as I can.  Right now I am on the hunt for  a tablecloth that I love.  Those that know me well, know that tablecloths, napkins and napkin rings are favorite things of mine...I always have  them on my table.  Got that from my Mom as she always did too!!!

This is our courtyard after we have made several changes.  My favorite place.

 The guest room.  I haven't purchased the duvet, etc yet,  I plan to do the room in lime green and white,

The living room after adding the area rug.  I have a gorgeous coffee table that goes in the middle, but we have to get 2 muscle men to carry it in from the garage,

The kitchen and I love it.   This will be the last wall paper to be removed.  All but 2 rooms are papered and we will start removing it next fall.  yuck

The other end of the kitchen which opens into the courtyard,  Will paint the table and chairs that I got at a resale shop.  I want to either find or make a red checked table cloth for it.  The laundry area is on the left.

The other end of the living room.  I love how the kitchen opens to the dining area.

TV room.  Jon painted the walls a light beige. This furniture is just temporary as we want to order 2 lazy boys that are wall huggers.  I picked up the area rug for now, but once we get the lazy boys I will get a larger one to go with the chairs,  Lots of pictures, baskets, florals, etc. will be added.  I just feel very good with what we have gotten done in a little over a week.

Our new comforter, but nothing else yet.  Painting the walls a soft green and accenting in yellows and green.  It is a nice size room and will be able to do a lot to make it beautiful.

So that's it friends.  I hope you enjoy seeing what we are doing.  I am excited as next year I will be able to bring some of my crafting things next year.  I will use a large closet in the tv room for my supplies and hope to pick up a piece of granite for my work space,.

Happy Easter

A day of celebration!  Our Lord has risen and gives us the promise of eternal life if we  accept

Him as our Savior!  Jon and I wish you and your family a blessed Easter.  To Him be the glory.

Lemon Pie Update

Lemon Pie

I still have several lemons that our neighbor gave us this winter, so last night for desert I made a lemon pie to serve to our dinner guests.  I love this recipe, but have been disappointed that the filling didn't fill up the pie pan enough.  So, I decided to increase the recipe to adjust to my pie pan.  I had Jon help me to make sure I was doing it correctly. (He is a whiz at calculations).  Below is the original picture before I increased the amounts.

PIE BEFORE I INCREASED THE RECIPE

LEMON PIE FOR LARGE PIE PAN

1 1/2 CUP SUGAR

3 TABLESPOON FLOUR

4 1/2 TABLESPOON CORN STARCH

1/4 PLUS 1/8 TEASPOON SALT

2 1/4 CUP WATER

3 TABLESPOON LEMON JUICE

3 TABLESPOON BUTTER

6 EGGS YOLKS

MIX SUGAR, FLOUR, CORNSTARCH, SALT AND BLEND TOGETHER .  ADD WATER, LEMON JUICE AND BRING TO A BOIL.  THEN POUR A LITTLE OF THE HOT MIXTURE IN TO THE 6 BEATEN EGG YOLKS.  ADD BUTTER AND COOK UNTIL THICK,, STIRRING FREQUENTLY.  I COOK ON MEDIUM TEMPERATURE.

POUR INTO A BAKED PIE SHELL.  I USE A LARGE PIE PAN.

INCREASED RECIPE FOR MERINGUE 

6 EGG WHITES

2 1/4 TEASPOONS CREAM TARTER

1 1/2 CUP SUGAR

2 1/4 TEASPOON VANILLA

1/8 TEASPOON PLUS 1/16 TEASPOON SALT

COOK FIRST AND TOTALLY COOL

1 CUP  COLD WATER THAT YOU HAVE ADDED 2 1/4 TABLESPOONS OF CORNSTARCH

BRING TO A BOIL UNTIL THICK .  I STICK IT IN THE FREEZER TO COOL QUICKLY.

IMPORTANT! MINE DIDN'T GET THICK SO I AM JUST NOT SURE IF I MEASURED INCORRECTLY OR OUR CALCULATION WAS INCORRECT.  SO, I ADDED ONE MORE TABLESPOON OF CORNSTARCH AND IT WAS PERFECT.  I SUGGEST YOU START WITH THE ABOVE MEASUREMENT, BUT IF THE MIXTURE IS NOT THICK LIKE PUDDING ADD ANOTHER TABLE SPOON (ADD TO A LITTLE AMOUNT OF COLD WATER FIRST).  ONCE I MAKE THIS AGAIN I WILL CORRECT THE AMOUNT.

BEAT EGG WHITES UNTIL FOAMY, THEN GRADUALLY ADD SUGAR AND SALT AND BEAT UNTIL EGG WHITES ARE PRETTY FIRM.  THEN ADD THE COMPLETELY COOLED CORNSTARCH MIXTURE AND VANILLA.  BEAT UNTIL VERY STIFF,

ADD TO TOP OF PIE, MAKING SURE THE EGG WHITES COMPLETELY COVER PIE TO SEAL EDGES.  BAKE ON 375 FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, OR UNTIL THE PEAKS ARE BROWN,

COOL FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN REFRIGERATE UNTIL COLD.

SERVE AND ENJOY!!!!

A HUGE BLESSING

Jon and I have done something that we said we would never do.We purchased a Villa in Fort Myers, Florida.  It is directly across the street from my Sister-in-Law Carole.  (My brother's wife..he died a year ago in October).  Jon fell in love with it because it has a garage and 3 bedrooms.  But, we were told it had already sold. I started praying as I just knew if we were to have it, God could work out those details.  And, sure enough He certainly did.  

We get possession soon after Easter and everything  other than personal items are included. I do feel bad for the sweet 88 year old lady who has to give up her home (makes me cry) .  Her son is moving her back to Wisconsin so he can take care of her because she is not well.  She does get to take her dog, which made us very happy.  I promised her we would love her home just as much as she has done the last 10 years.

We are staying longer than we first planned, but we are anxious to get in it and start making it ours.
I am also excited to do some decorating after I see what all is there.  We have truly been blessed!!!

 Front of Villa with attached 1 stall garage (Jon is so happy)

                                                                    Side Yard

                                        Front lani which is totally screened

                    Back Lani enclosed with screens and off the living room

Kitchen on Right side

                                                              Kitchen on left side

 Living Room and Dining area