This is what I'll be up to in June

Its June and this is what I'm looking forward to this month.

My first priority is to finish my BIG CUP at pick n paint pottery in Centreville MD. 

 

Finished by oil painting of my darling grandson Jimmy.  Can't wait to have it framed and presented to my son for Father's Day.

June 10th  - Is my grandson, Jonathan's Elementary School Graduation at his school in Milford Delaware. 

June 11th - Is my granddaughters Liz and Phee-Phee's dance recital in Glenside PA.  Always love to see the girls dance!!!  My dancing queens!!

June 15th - Is my GREAT GRANDSON SHANE's First Grade Graduation from Lake Forest in Felton, DE!  Look forward to celebrating with him!

June 20th thru June 24th My three little granddaughters come to visit.  I have lots of fun things planned for them!!  Can't wait to visit with them!

June 25th - Is my GRANDSON TERRY'S 16th BIRTHDAY!  Paulette's is hosting a barbque and pool party for him at her house!!  Can't wait to celebrate!!!!!

Hoping to squeeze in a trip to the Aerospace Museum in Washington as Terry's Birthday Gift!  I know he would really enjoy it and so would I!

 

I'm looking forward to receiving all our fresh local produce this month from the Homestead Farms coop.  Made Radish Top soup yesterday.  It was delicious!!  reminded me of my Mom's potatoe soup. I will definitely make it again and again.  Veggie box for the first week of June contained NAPA Cabbage - I plan on making stuffed rolls with it; radishes, turnips, lettuce (making a strawberry feta cheese salad for dinner tonight); dandelion greens - plan on making an anchovy salad with them; and broccoli.  I love eating green!! 

I'm hoping to take two weekend day trips with Bruce this month, one to Chestertown to just stroll around and have a nice lunch!  Another lunch and strolling trip to Northeast Maryland.  and just maybe we can squeeze in a birding trip to one of the NWR to pick up the new Duck Stamp!  Helps the duck hunters, refuge and wildlife! 

This month I want to continue with my goal to scrapbook a page a day - an exercise in finding my own scrapbook style.   And making my own Birthday and Father's Day cards for my son, father-in-law  & son-in-laws!

Another goal for this month is to garden an hour a day at least 3 to 6 times a week.  Still working on my rose garden. The work I have planned includes finishing the weeding and grass removal, and walk-on-me plants for my rose arbor. My biggest challenge is fighting rose spot and spider mites.  I would also like to weed my vegetable circle.

This month I would like to take more backyard photos and portrait shots!

My new bed around my gazebo needs dirt and planting too. I'm sure I won't have enough spare hours or strength to finish all the things that need to be done in my garden. A garden means never ending work and joy!!!

Hopefully I can lose a few pounds by the end of June. Two or Three would be nice!

Hope everyone has a wonderful month!!  Enjoy the outdoors! 

Time to get busy!

Whats up in my world this May

Its May and this is what I'm looking forward to this month.

Started the month with a trip to Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware.  Spotted 42 species of birds.

This month I'm looking forward to my oil painting classes at the Senior Center and completing my painting of my littlest grandson, Jimmy.  Hoping to get it done in time to present to my son for Father's Day.

I'm also looking forward to finishing my huge ceramic cup and saucer at Pick N Paint in Centreville MD.  After it's finished, I plan to plant the beautiful begonia in it that I received from my daughter, Terri on Easter. 

May 1st - the start of my online photoshop class which last all month!

May 3rd  - Is my grandson, Jonathan's Mother's Day Breakfast at his school.  Hopefully I can get up early enough to be in Milford Delaware by 7:30 a.m.  Which means I need to be on the road by 6:30 a.m.  Ugh!!

May 8th - is Mother's Day   WISHING ALL THE MOM'S A VERY HAPPY DAY!

May 14th - Acadia (my Maine Coon) celebrates her birthday - she will be 9 years old which is 52 in cat years!  Happy Birthday Acadia - hope you live forever!!

May 16th - Taking a trip to the Ocean to do some painting!

May 22nd - Blackwater NWR's Bird walk

Hoping to make it to one of my great grandson's Soccer games some Saturday this month!  Go Shane!!!

May 30th - MEMORIAL DAY - the first official day of the Summer Season!   

The month of May is the start of our organic farm coop.  I'm looking forward to receiving all our fresh local produce.  I have some good recipes from last year and I'm looking forward to trying some of the new recipes I've collected over the winter. 

This month I want to continue with my goal to scrapbook a page a day - an exercise in finding my own scrapbook style. 

Another goal for this month is to garden an hour a day at least 3 to 6 times a week.  I'm hoping to finish my rose garden improvements by the end of the month.  The work I have planned includes finishing the weeding and grass removal, transplanting some mint from the backyard around my blooming small yellow rose, finding plants to go around my antique rose on my umbrella trellis, and walk-on-me plants for my rose arbor and a plant that repels spider mites or japanese beetles to go around my flagstaff rose.  I would also like to get the seeds planted in my vegetable circle.  I have corn, bean, leek and squash seeds. 
Update planted corn seeds today May 2nd
Another job is weeding and transplanting mint in the small bed under my powder room window.  My new bed around my gazebo needs planting too.  I'm sure I won't have enough spare hours or strength to finish all the things that need to be done in my garden.  A garden means never ending work and joy!!!

Hopefully I can lose a few pounds by the end of May.  Two or Three would be nice!

Time to get busy!

What I'm up to in April

Its another new month April and I have so much to look forward to this month.

Its time to say good-bye to my fur coat and send it off to cold storage until the frost is back on the pumpkin LOL!!!

Its also the end of Project Feeder Watch on the 8th.  It was fun counting and identifying the birds at my feeders for Cornell - Hey! I had an unusual visitor today! a turkey vulture was on my deck feasting at my ground feeder under my upside down thistle feeders!  Took this photo thru my door with screen.  He was sitting on top of the thristle feeders when I snapped it.

This month I'm looking forward to my oil painting and Mahjongg classes which will continue thru the month.

April 6th is time for my yearly mammogram - as a breast cancer survivor I urge all you lady friends to keep up with your self exams and annual screening!

April 9th - I have a trip planned to the Aerospace Museum in Washington DC with my grandsons!

April 15th is the native plant sale at the Adkins Arboretum!! 

April 16th - Meeting my daughters and their families at Friendles to celebrate

Lar's 16th Birthday!! 

April 22nd I'm looking forward to the opening of the movie "Water for Elephants" - I read the book and can't wait to see the movie!!

April 23rd My grandson's are Baptized in the Catholic faith! and its my great grandson Shane's Birthday!

April 24th Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge has their early morning bird walk

April 26th I'm planning a trip to the Philadelphia Magic Garden

April 30th is my great grandson's Soccer game! 

This month I want to continue with my goal to scrapbook a page a day - an exercise in finding my own scrapbook style. 

My cooking plans for April include Salmon Salad, Fettucine & smoked Salmon, and several chicken dishes: Rosemary Potato, Garlic Orange and onion, and Mushroom.

Another goal for this month is to keep moving and walk 3 times a week, do some strength training twice a week, and yoga once a week to stay flexible.  And continue my 1200 calorie a day diet so far I'm losing a pound a week.

This month I hope to find time to clean up my garden (weather permittting and the ground dries out).

Time to get busy and have a great month!!

The House that Stamps Build Sketch M911 challenge

Had a great time at the Stamp Art Tour convention in Oaks, PA  this weekend.  Stopped by to say hi to Wendy at the Repeat Impressions booth and stocked up on some stamps and cards while I was there. 
At the friday night Make and Take with dessert, Wendy showed us how to make a three step card that I think would be ideal for sending a gift card with my greetings. 
Couldn't wait to get home and start stamping!
Had the juices flowing and made this one for Sketch M911 using stamp 118.  Hope u like it!

Here's my enter for the Studio Calico Sunday Sketch

This sketch was really different and challenging - hope u like my take on an unusual sketch.

My entry for Calico Studios Sundy Sketch

Great Sketch!!

My entry in Studio Calico Weekly Challenge ending March 7th

I love the challenge to add stripes of patterned paper to my layout.  What a great way to use up your stash!!

Things to celebrate in March

Its another new month MARCH and I have so much to look forward to this month.

March 3rd - oil painting classes start at the Grasonville Senior Center - I'm still working on my late cat and

                    friend Ahkeer's portrait.

March 4th - watercolor class start at Chesapeake college

March 7th - my last Gastronomic History of the Eastern Shore class

                   also on that day I have an oil painting class in Centreville - I'm working on a

                   winter mountain landscape.

March 12th - Meeting my daughters and their families at Friendlies to celebrate my granddaughter

                     Pheodora's 5th birthday - LOVE being with my grandkids!!!!

March 13th - My grandson's Terry and Lars Rite of Election at St. Margaret's Newark

                     Delaware

March 18th - I'll be off to Pennsylvania for the Stamp Convention

March 19th - You'll finding me shopping at the Stamp Convention before heading back home
March 20th - My husband's birthday
March 23rd - Looking forward to spending time with my grandson Jonathan at his
           science fair
March 24th - My Mahjogg class starts at the college
March 27th - Early morning birdwalk at Blackwater NWR
March 29th - Time to get my hair done!!!

This month my goal is to scrapbook a page a day - an exercise in finding my own scrapbook style. 
I'll update as I go along
  March 1st - I scrapbooked a page for Lar's album - A snow day for Lars
  March 2nd - I scrapbooked a page in Terry's album also for a challenge - Terry, Lars & Jon in the
                      sharks jaw from the National Aquarium

  March 3rd - I scrapbooked a page in Liz's album Catching Butterflies

 for the Crops Plus challenge - please go to the Crops Plus facebook page around March 25th and vote for my sketch Thanks

  March 4th - I scrapped a 2 page layout from the Aquarium in Jon's scrapbook
  March 5th - I made a layout titled Fancy Nancy and Pheodora
  March 6th - Masked and Glimmer misted a page for Liz's album
  March 7th - Masked and Glimmer misted a page in Lar's album
  March 8th - Layout Cousins photos from Catarina's Birthday Party for Jonathan's album
  March 9th - Scrapped a page for Liz's book

March 10th - Scrapped 2 pages in my mini-album "Embracing Imperfection"

March 11th - I scrapped a page in my 8x8 album "about me"

March 12th - Scrapped Catarina's Birthday party in my 2011 album

March 13th - Completed Jimmy's 5 months old layout for his scrapbook

March 14th - Scrapped another page in my "about me" album

March 15th - Finished My Time layout in "about me" album

March 16th - 2 page Winter layout for my 2011 album

March 17th - Completed a page in Shane's album

March 18th - Finished a page in Terry's album
March 19th - Scrapped Pheodora's Birthday layout for her album
March 20th - Finished Pheodora's party page for Catarina's album
March 21st - Finished Awards page in Jonathan's album

March 22nd - scrapped a page in Lar's album
March 23rd - Finished a page in my mini album 'embrace imperfection'
March 24th - Finished another page in 'embrace imperfection' mini album
March 25th - Made a Mothers Day mini album
March 26th - Made a mini album of my favorite scrapbooking supplies

My cooking plans for March include Carrot Cake and upside down Fudge Almond Tart, Salmon with Veggies in Foil, Moonbeam Salad for Astrology day March 20th and a few chicken dishes: Greek Chicken, Peachy Chicken, Zesty Chicken with Veggies and Tomato Ceasar Chicken - and my ash wednesday plans include a nice cup of Cafe Au Lait! 

Another goal for this month is to get moving and walk 3 times a week, do some strength training twice a week, and yoga once a week to stay flexible.  Wish me luck. 

Time to get busy and have a great month!!

Here's My Entry for Calico Studios - Play along

Love, love, love Studio Calico - taking the Food Layout Challenge!  WOW!  What fun to challenge yourself!  Here's my entry!  Hope I win.

New Sketch Entry for Repeat Impressions Card Challenge F911

Here's my entry for the challenge.  I used stamps 118 and 1919.  I just love this bear.  Since it's winter and everyone knows bears in Maryland are hibernating, I made mine a polar bear!!  He's arrived happily at home for valentines day after plunging into the Chesapeake Bay in late January.   Isn't he the cutest?

My House that stamps built card challenge J2611

Here's my entry for Repeat Impressions card sketch J2611 challenge
Its uses stamp 4212 - love that deer stamp!!!  I know u will 2!  Why not enter too!

Things to celebrate in February

Its a new month FEBRUARY and I have so much to look forward to:
2nd  Ground Hog Day Be the first to tell me if the Ground Hog saw his shadow and u could win a prize!!
        My Calligraphy class starts at Chesapeak College
3rd  Chinese New Year - the Year of the Rabbit
         Happy New Year to my two rabbits Jonathan and Amanda
4th  My Photography class starts at Chesapeak College
10th My granddaughter Catarina turns 3!!!
12th Catarina's Birthday Party
14th Valentines Day -  looking forward to receiving lots of love from my family!!
        My Gastronomic History course starts at Chesapeake
25th Bruce and I will celebrate our 17th anniversary

Hoping to also squeeze in some birding trips - looking to add Lapland longspurs to my life list - if you spot any please contact me Thanks 

Also hoping to finish my portrait of Ahkeer at my oil painting class at the Senior Center. 

Hope to do some more weight training at the center too! 

Want to do more scrapbooking and cardmaking.  Want to make some more Valentines and enter "the house that cards build" challenge.  Taking a free on line scrapbooking class at big picture scrapbooking and another one that's not free.  LOL 

After finishing this blog, I want to brew a nice a pot of coffee for Mexican coffee by adding cinnamon to the coffee grinds and sweeten your cup with brown sugar and chocolate syrup and top with whip cream.  Looking forward to putting my feet up and sipping my coffee while doing my backyard bird count for Cornell which I do two days a week for about an hour each day.  Lots of hungry birdies out there.  I may have to venture out on the deck to fill the birdbath.  Oh, woe is me!!  LOL

Hoping to do some more cooking with Winter Vegetables this month starting with a Chinese Stir Fry tonight followed by some warm apple slices with cinnamon!!   Mediterranen Couccous, Stuffed Red Peppers (stuffed with Kale), Mashed Kalhrabi, Choucroute Garni, Mushroom Miso Soup, Ratalouille with Grapes in Wine for dessert, Pasta and Greens, Sweet Potatoe Salad with Grilled Bananas for dessert, Hummus & Crispy Kale with sea salt for snacking, Stuffed Baked Potatoes, Quninoa Risotto with oranges with honey and almonds for dessert, Grits and Collards, and Kohlrabi Parmesean. 

Well as you can see I have lots to do so lets get busy and have a great month!! 

If your feel blue take some Vit D, the sunshine vitamin it may chase away the SADs!!!

END OF JANUARY

Hi Everyone,
Its hard to believe today is the last day of January!!  I hope you all had a good month.  I know I did. 
Jan. 1st started off well with dinner at my in-laws house in Delaware - its a family/German tradition to serve
            sauerkraut and pork on New Year's Day. 
Jan 7th I visited my friend Rebecca in Severna Park and had a delicious Chinese lunch - its always fun to
            spend time with an old friend
Jan 14th My daughter Paulette and I were off to Frederick for our 2nd annual Creative Memories Crop
              I completed 27 pages and had a good time!!
Jan 17th Bruce and I had fun birding
Jan 21st My granddaughters Liz and Phee-Phee came for the weekend

Jan 22nd The girls and I had a great time painting pottery in Centreville

Jan 23rd The girls and I went to the Toby Dinner Threatre in Columbia to see Cinderella
              The prince even tried the glass slipper on Phee-Phee but alas it didnt fit!!  oh well Im sure she will
               meet her Prince Charming some day!!
Jan 29th I had a great time at the Baltimore Aquarium with my three Grandsons: Lars, Terry and Jonathan

             and my daughter Terri.  Loved the jelly fish exhibit. 
Jan 30th Bruce and I had a good time birding Queen Anne's County were I live and Bombay Hook NWR in Smyrna Delware. 
During the month I visited the Grasonville Senior Center for oil painting and gym training . 
As always, I was sad to take down my Christmas decorations - oops the wreath is still on the door and bluebird house.  I really must get around to taking them down when the snow melts.  LOL   I was glad to visit with my grandchildren and spend time birding and dinning with Bruce.  During the month, I made some lentil soup and made up my own recipe for bean soup when I substituted sausage for ham.  I loved it.  It was hearty and delicious.  I also enjoyed a nice winter salad of romaine, dried cranberries, pecans and fresh pears.  It was also nice to enjoy a warm oatmeal breakfast with peaches and brown sugar on cold mornings.  I also enjoyed falling to sleep in my cozy flanneled sheet bed watching some of my favorite shows like Jersey Shore, Outdoors Maryland, My Fair wedding, The Golden Globes, Selling NY, and the Fashion Police.  LOL  I hope you enjoyed the month too!!    I'm looking forward to February....I wonder if the Ground Hog will see his shadow???