Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello and Happy Monday to you! Also Happy Labor Day! Actually, Hubby and DS are laboring on the deck at the moment; replacing boards that were rotting after nearly 20 years in the elements.

Welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday hosted each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Thanks, Sandra! Okay, let's get started...

The weather...We started out with a cool morning but it is heating up fast so will likely be in the high 90s today! We have a few clouds and some wind.

Right now I am...Waiting for the dishes in the dishwasher to cool off so I can put them away and waiting for the laundry to finish in the washing machine so I can hang it out.

Thinking...About all the cards I need to get made today.

On my reading pile...The Iodine Crisis by Lynn Farrow; The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts (book 2 in The Inn Boonsboro Trilogy); 350 Best Vegan Recipes (yes, I read recipe books); and our read aloud is Galloway by Louis L'Amour (another book in the Sackett series)

On my TV...Nothing! I was hoping to watch Secret Millionaire last night but it wasn't on. I have been reading a lot.

On the menu for this week...I will start planning menus next month. For now, it's whatever sounds good at the moment.

On my to do list...

• Pack up some stuff to take to the thrift store
• Make about 30 cards
• Clean out refrigerator
• Trip to town tomorrow to deliver Stampin' Up! and take stuff to thrift store

In the craft basket...

• Granny Square afghan--I will get back to it when it cools down a little; probably later this month.
• Socks--I took the sock apart I was working on and have it knitted through the heel flap and am working on the gusset. I have to take it apart again to the end of the heel flap cuz something's funny but will work through it. Hopefully will have at least one finished sock by next week. 

Looking forward to this week...I am looking forward to seeing friends tomorrow and to doing some stamping this week.

Looking around the house...Dining room table is littered with mail and books from the weekend. It tends to be our drop spot:( Kitchen is clean; dogs are sleeping in the living room. Hubby and DS had to make a run for more lumber (1 1/2 to the store and the same back).

From the camera...

Hubby found the Dave's Killer Bread Store in Clackamas last week!
He brought home lots of good sprouted wheat bread:)

On my prayer list...

• My granddaughter as she starts school this week--3rd grade.
• Joan, an 82 year young friend who has started sharing her faith through a blog I helped her create. This is helping her cope with the loss of her husband and her failing health. You can visit her at Vital Concerns. Leave her a comment or send her an email to encourage her:)
• Some friends making poor choices.

Bible Verse; Devotional...

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10

Well, it looks like even with several interruptions, I still made it through this post! I will be back tomorrow with my Design Team projects for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges. I actually did two this month!

Have a great day and a wonderful week!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

I am beyond apologizing for not posting for the last week. I don't know what has been wrong with me for the last couple of months but surely this month I will be able to get back on a schedule so I can get something done!

It is time for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat hosted each week by the super busy and talented seamstress Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. Her creations just keep getting better and better so hop on over if you get a chance to see what she has been sewing. Mondays are a favorite day for me to visit her blog because it's Warp & Weft Reveal Day! Always something fun to see! But let's get started with the Chit-Chat!

New cookbook hubby bought me last week:)

I am...

• Reading: The Iodine Crisis by Lynne Farrow
• Listening to: The gentle whirr of the ceiling fan and my hubby using the drill and skill saw outside (he's replacing boards on the deck).
• Watching: We just finished watching Abel's Field--great movie! I hope to watch Secret Millionaire tonight.
• Cooking/Baking: Still a little warm for much cooking or baking. Yesterday we made Eggplant Pizzas--very yummy! I ate the leftovers for breakfast this morning:) 
• Happy I accomplished this week: I caught up on some emails that were long overdue; survived week 4 of a special diet I have been on (more on that later); got my Design Team project done and submitted to The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges.
• Looking forward to next week: Getting back on some kind of a schedule!
• Thankful for today: God's love and saving grace.
• Bonus Question: What is your favorite thing about the fall months? I like the changeover to my fall wardrobe and being able to use the fall colors on my cards. 

Okay, that's it for me this week! I hope you are having a great Labor Day Weekend and I will be back tomorrow for Happy Homemaker Monday:)

Kat

Stamping on Ceramic Tiles

All I can say is "What took me so long?" I saw a video about two years ago by Tami White at Stamp with Tami and knew I wanted to try stamping on ceramic tiles but just kept putting it off. Surely it couldn't be as easy as it looked. So, I sent hubby to buy some tumbled, unglazed tiles for me so I could try it! Well, I am hooked! Now I want to try every stamp set I own on a tile!!! It is sooo fun and super easy! These 4" x 4" tiles are under 80 cents each in packages of 10 and can be purchased from Home Depot or Lowe's. Depending on where you live, you might have to special order them. I had hubby get me the little felt circles to put on the bottom so they make wonderful coasters!

My Happy Stampers were able to choose between the two tiles above for the one they made and most chose the tree.

For these projects I used the following supplies:

• 4" x 4" Ceramic Tumbled Tiles
• Stamp sets: Harvest Blessings (top photo) Lovely as a Tree (bottom photo) by Stampin' Up!
• Stazon Ink
• Art Chalk to color
• Spray Sealer
• Felt Bumper Pads

I am thinking of making these for Christmas gifts--packaged together in a set of 4! I hope you enjoyed this project!

Our state fair starts tomorrow and we are planning to go on Sunday! I always look forward to the state fair--lots to see and do! I will need to be sure to take my camera this year!

Have a great day!

Kat

Happy Stampers Sneak Peek

I was so super excited about this project I got ready for my Happy Stampers! We meet tonight and I don't want to ruin the whole surprise so will just show you a bit of it! I will show you the "full meal deal" tomorrow and tell you how I did it! Another hint? I am making these for Christmas gifts this year...but only ones that don't have to mail! You will not believe how cheap and easy these are to make!

Have a great day!

Kat

Happy Homemaker...Tuesday

As you could see from my previous post, Happy Homemaker Monday had to move to Tuesday for me! Fortunately all is working out...car is getting fixed and we have two other cars to shuffle between three of us. I just have to keep reminding hubby that he can't make appointments on Wednesday because I need a car! The very busy and super talented Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom is our weekly host for Happy Homemaker Monday.

So, let's get started with my Happy Homemaker...Tuesday!

The weather...It will likely be in the mid 90's today but may start cooling down a little.

Right now I am...Writing this post.

Thinking...About all I need to get done today.

On my reading pile...Just starting The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber. Do audio books count?!!! I am finishing up House Rules (audio) by Jodi Picoult--excellent book!!! Our read aloud is another book in the Sackett series by Louis L'Amour, Galloway. 

On my TV...Not much TV watching lately because I am enjoying reading but do watch Secret Millionaire on Sunday nights!

On the menu for this week...Still no menu but fall is coming so I may start doing a menu when things cool off a bit so I can do more cooking without turning the air conditioner on.

On my to do list...Biggest thing is to get ready for my Happy Stampers stamping club meeting tomorrow night.

In the craft basket...Sadly, I haven't done any knitting, crocheting or sewing for a couple weeks. I haven't figured out how to knit and read at the same time but maybe could do audio books...hmmm!

Looking forward to this week...Meeting with my Happy Stampers tomorrow night!!! We always have sooo much fun!

Looking around the house...As usual, dogs and dog toys everywhere! I need to throw out the flowers hubby got me a couple weeks ago and straighten the coffee table and end tables.

From the camera...

Our cute little nectarine tree...with nectarines on it!!!

On my prayer list...

• Friends who are babysitting their great-grandchildren for ten days!
• Friend in Germany who is struggling with lots of changes in her young life.
• Friends struggling with lots of issues
• My mom
• A friend coming up on the first anniversary of his wife's death--always difficult
• Friend Margarita who just moved to Japan with her family (hubby stationed there via Navy)--that their adjustment will be quick and painless. 

Bible verse; Devotional...I just attended a wedding on Saturday so I Corinthians 13 comes to mind; it was read during the wedding ceremony...

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 

² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 

³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,^[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 
⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 
⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 
⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there aretongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 
⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 
¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 
¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Have a great day and I hope to have something crafty to show you tomorrow!

Kat

Not on My List!

Good Morning! I had every intention of posting yesterday but...stuff happens! So I thought it might be interesting to show the difference between what was on MY list and what actually got done!

My List:

• Blog doing Happy Homemaker Monday
• Write email to my Happy Stampers reminding them about stamping club on Wednesday night.
• Nap
• Dishes
• Work on the projects for Wednesday night's stamping club
• Laundry--2+ loads

What actually happened:

• One load of laundry--washed and hung up
• Hubby's car wouldn't start so he had to cancel his appointments and call the auto repair. They said it was most likely the starter and told him how to start it so I quickly got dressed and drove 1 1/2 hours to The Dalles to take the car to the shop--fortunately we didn't have to have it towed! See there's always a silver lining:) Hubby drove the pickup so we could leave the car for a few days (hopefully just a few days).
• Hubby and I met with his supervisor over lunch.
• We got home in time to start dinner--by that time I am done! Productivity (if there was any) is over!
• Dishes actually got done.
• Took the clothes off the line, folded them and put them away.

Today should work more according to plan. Hubby is off to the Tri-Cities for his appointments; I have one load of clothes on the line and the dishes are done! I wrote the email to my Happy Stampers and will scoot upstairs to work on some projects:) Plus, I am still planning to do the Happy Homemaker Monday...on Tuesday!

Have a great day! 

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Oh dear! It looks like it's been a week since I last posted:( Last week was such a busy week! So glad I can participate in the Sunday Night Chit-Chat this week:) Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily is our host for the weekly Chit-Chat! So, let's get started!

Our severely pruned tree is coming back!

I am...

Reading...Just finished Silver Boat by Luanne Rice and am just finishing up The Covenant by Beverly Lewis. I'm anxious to get started on my new Debbie Macomber book, The Inn at Rose Harbor (a visit back to Cedar Cove).

Watching...Secret Millionaire--love it! We watched Despicable Me this afternoon:) So cute!

Listening to...Rocky snoring and the TV.

Baking/Cooking...Haven't done much baking or cooking lately.

Happy I accomplished this week...I kept my head above water this week and sometimes that's enough!

Looking forward to next week...It's time for my Happy Stampers to meet this week and I so enjoy getting together with these ladies...my friends!

Grateful for this week...For the last month, our dear young friend Marie from Germany has been visiting her former host family. She was a Foreign Exchange Student a couple years ago and we became such good friends with her. Last week we were fortunate to have her spend the night and then we took her to the airport the next day. I miss her so much already but was so happy we got to spend some time with her.

*Bonus Question* What is my favorite candy treat? I really like red licorice but also enjoy dark chocolate:)

Well, that's it for me today! 

Kat