Happy Homemaker Monday

I am getting a late start today but...better late than never, right?!!! I got some laundry done; walked on the treadmill for an hour; and finally got hubby out the door to "do his thing" for the day! Now my time is my own:)

I value all the comments I receive from you but I have a fairly high rate of anonymous spam comments that come through so have set the comments so I have to review each one before posting. This morning I nearly panicked because it looked like I had inadvertently deleted TWO comments! No matter what I did, I couldn't find them. So, I came onto my blog to start this post and tada! they were waiting there for me to approve! I was one happy camper!!!

I hope you are ready for Happy Homemaker Monday because I sure am! I want to thank Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom who is the weekly host of Happy Homemaker Monday. She also photographs and makes the beautiful Happy Homemaker Buttons that those of us who participate use each week! So, let's get started...

Weather...Beautiful sunshine and looks like the high today will be 58 degrees (F). The low this morning was 48 degrees I believe. We open the door to our root cellar at night and close during the day to get the temperature down so we can store apples, potatoes, cabbage and other food for the winter.

Right now I am...Just working on this post.

Thinking...about what I want to eat for lunch and planning the cards I will be making this afternoon and tomorrow.

On my reading pile...Just finished The Replacement Wife by Eileen Gouge and am ready to finish Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy. Lined up is How to be Organized in Spite of Yourself by Sunny Schlenger and Roberta Roesch. Trust me, if this book doesn't help me get organized, I am a lost cause:( Keep your fingers crossed for me!

On my TV...Nothing! Doing a lot of reading:)

On the menu for this week...Soup Week!

Monday -- haven't decided yet
Tuesday -- Curried French Lentil Soup and green salad
Wednesday -- I will be gone all day so hubby will fend for himself (he's a great cook)
Thursday -- Vegetable Stew and Crudites
Friday -- Potato Corn Chowder and Cole Slaw
Saturday -- Leftover Soup with Green Salad
Sunday -- Not sure yet

On my to do list...

• Working on my list of 20 things to do before Thanksgiving to get this house "company ready" (deep cleaning stuff)
• Laundry--always laundry! I try to do one or two loads per day except weekends.
• Get ready for my Happy Stampers Club (meets on Wednesday night)
• Thank you cards for hubby's clients and my customers (I am sooo far behind)

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating...Nothing! However, this is what I NEED to be working on:

• I am stuck at the moment! I need to finish the socks I was knitting last month so will take them to my friend, Barb, so she can help me figure out where I went wrong. 
• I need to start putting the blocks together for the Granny Square Afghan I was working on.
• I decided I want to make a Traveling Toiletry & Makeup Bag set with the beautiful Sassy Shoes fabric I bought in September.
• I need to start making American Girl doll clothes to go with the new doll I just bought for my granddaughter for Christmas.

Looking around the house...Dogs everywhere as usual but so far today they haven't cleared their toy box out! Kitchen is clean and the two crocks of sauerkraut are sitting on the floor doing their thing! Bed is made and laundry is done! All in all, it looks pretty good around here:) Even the kitchen table is clear--no mail piled up on it as it usually is!

From the camera...

More sauerkraut mess from yesterday!

On my prayer list...

• My brother
• My mom
• My sister in need of hip replacements
• Christmas Jar recipient for this year
• Widow and children of my husband's uncle who recently died
• Acquaintances who need a house
• My nephew-in-law who recently lost his father

Bible verse/devotional...

"Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord." Jeremiah 9: 23, 24

Well, looks like that's it for me today!

I have a card for you tomorrow and hopefully every day for the rest of the week!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Welcome to the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! Hubby and I have been making sauerkraut all afternoon and evening so hopefully will have lots of yummy sauerkraut to take us through the winter:) We made a 15L crock and a 30L crock--that's a lot of sauerkraut!!!

Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily is the host for the weekly Sunday Night Chit-Chat so be sure to check out her blog to see what new items she has been creating! She is on the design team for Warp & Weft and weekly shows her creations using their incredible fabrics.

15 L crock nearly full of cabbage and sea salt to make sauerkraut

Okay, let's get started! I am...

Reading...The Replacement Wife by Eileen Gouge

Listening to...the radio playing in the background.

Watching...Nothing

Cooking/Baking...We just ate sandwiches today because the kitchen was a mess with making sauerkraut.

Happy I accomplished this week...So glad to have the sauerkraut done and working! Now to be able to keep the temperature right. Last year we made one batch that was perfect and a batch that wasn't so good because we weren't as careful about the temperature. 

I also got my list made of things I need to get done before the US Thanksgiving on November 28. So many neglected cleaning duties so will just take one thing per day to hopefully have a "company ready" house by then.

Looking forward to next week...It's time for my Happy Stampers to meet again this week! I am pretty excited about the projects I have for them and it is always so much fun to get together with this group of ladies:)

Thankful for today...I am finally well after being sick with a cold/flu for 2 1/2 weeks! Whew! I didn't think that was ever going to leave! 

*Bonus Question* What is my favorite part of Thanksgiving food-wise?
I would have to say stuffing/dressing...whatever you call it! We are vegans so I had to rework the delicious stuffing recipe my mom used to make. Check out my recipe HERE. Second would have to be Pumpkin Pie.

Well, I'm off to finish up the sauerkraut (Hubby's doing the lion's share of the job for sure...I am just his assistant)! Tomorrow is Happy Homemaker Monday!

Kat

Halloween Fun Fold Card

I have really been through the wringer in the sickness department! The cold/flu I got on September 23 lingered and lingered. Last Saturday I thought I was finally on the mend so went to a family funeral on Sunday--two hour drive each way plus time spent with family meant we got home about 8:30 pm. I was really feeling spent. Woke up Monday morning and was sick again (still?). Slept all day Monday and Tuesday so by Wednesday was finally feeling some better. Today I feel almost normal again! This was a long siege! I'm not making any promises, but hopefully I am back to blogging regularly again! I sure hope so!!!

While I was at my daughter's last month we made a lot of cards but I wanted to wait to show you this one till I knew the recipients had received theirs. Mieka helped us make this card that she got from Joan Robertson (link will take you to the video)! Halloween is not my thing but I couldn't resist making a few cutesy Halloween cards anyway! This one was labor intensive but oh so worth it! Thanks, Mieka for helping us make this adorable card!

I had the hardest time getting a good photograph of this card. I think I photographed this card more than any others I have ever made. I wish I lived closer to my niece...she is a professional photographer and I would have her photograph all my cards:) Alas, I will just need to hone my own skills. A new camera would help but since I have an iPhone on my wish list, the camera will have to wait! Makes me think of the song from Mama Mia, Money, Money, Money! Oh, "all the things I could do if I had a little Money":) Must be that ADD kicking in again...

I will let you get the list of supplies from Joan's video. I didn't have my Halloween paper so used some my daughter had bought at Joann's. The googly eyed creatures are a stamp set that was in the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog last year called Googly Ghouls! I am not sure about the stamp I used on the inside. 

Just to let you know, Stampin' Up! is having some GREAT promotions this month! 

• Join for $25! You receive $26.95 in merchandise of YOUR choosing; 20% discount on everything you buy or sell; 30% discount on first order of $150 or more; no further obligation! If you buy/sell $300 in merchandise in 3 months you continue as a demonstrator; if not, you don't. No obligation to hold parties or sell anything! Is this a win-win or what?!!! This offer expires October 21 so email me today if you are interested in becoming part of my team!!!
• Party More! For a $250 party (or order) you receive an extra $25 in FREE merchandise! So instead of $40 FREE you receive $65 FREE-- Whoo Hoo!!! But only till the end of October!
• Everyday Occasions Cardmaking Kit--Everything to make 20 cards (except glue) for just $19.95! Includes stamps and envelopes!!!
• My favorite, The Envelope Punch Board! Measurements to make 66 different sizes of envelopes printed right on the Envelope Punch Board! Plus there are many more great ideas to use the Envelope Punch Board for besides envelopes thanks to the many talented paper crafters out there! 

If you are interested in any of these great promotions, just email me with your name and phone number and I will get right back to you:)

Have a great weekend!

Kat

Happy Stampers Swap Card

I am still trying to get over this nasty cold! It is really hanging on! I am really looking forward to being able to breathe normal again! 

Today I continued with my Soup Sensations with Vegetable Stew! It was so yummy! I don't know what it is about being sick that makes me want to eat soup but it does hit the spot:)

This is the swap card I received from Christy in last month's Happy Stampers Card Swap! WOW! What a fun card! I don't have information on what she used but do know that she stamped her image on Watercolor Paper and watercolored the image probably using a blender pen. It really made the card for her to tie the raffia on it. Isn't this card adorable?!!! Thank you Christy!

I thought I would share one extra card with you today. This one was made by my daughter while I was visiting her a couple weeks ago. She loves the Dress-up Framelits!

I love the way she made the cute little jacket and added the flower on the jacket with the Candy Dot in the middle of it. I am sure you will see a lot more of the adorable Dress-up Framelits!

Have a great weekend and I will try to be back on Sunday night of the Sunday Night Chit-Chat. 

Kat

Lovely as a Tree by my Granddaughter

While my daughter and I were crafting on her dining room table, my one and only grandchild wanted to make a card! A chip off the old block:) She decided she wanted to use the Lovely as a Tree stamp set and make the tree into a Fall tree using a Blender Pen and the Classic Stampin' Pads. 

She used Pumpkin Pie, Real Red and Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pads for the leaves on the tree. She got a smudge of Pumpkin Pie ink on the right hand side of her card so I showed her how to sponge the same color all over the card. She loved it! Then she wanted to stamp the tree on the right so I showed her how to use a Sponge Dauber to color the tree! 

I think she did a great job! 

Do you craft with your children or grandchildren?

Kat

October Cupboard Trilogy Design Team Projects

I submitted two Design Team projects for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges this month. The first using the Truly Grateful stamp set by Stampin' Up! (of course)...

For this project I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla card stock
• Truly Grateful stamp set
• Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake and Summer Sun (retired)
• Woodgrain Embossing Folder
• Punches: Decorative Label and Large Oval
• Other: Linen Thread, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

The second project I did, I really love! I started by making a file folder and the card just took on a life of it's own after that. The rock and roll technique on the main image really turned out beautiful, I think. What do you think? I stamped the main image a 2nd time in Cajun Craze, cut out the center and popped it up with Dimensionals in the center of the design.

No surprise, the NEW Envelope Punch Board far exceeded expected sales so will be backordered till the middle of October. I love, love, love office supplies so will be making lots of these little file folder cards!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Summer Starfruit, Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze and Bashful Blue (retired) card stock and Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper
• Day of Gratitude stamp set (retired but I love it) and Truly Grateful
• Ink: Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie and Cajun Craze
• Envelope Punch Board
• Punches: Decorative Label and Extra Large Oval
• Other: 1 1/4" Burlap Ribbon (Love it!), Sticky Strip, Glue Dots and Dimensionals

Tomorrow I am going to show you a card my granddaughter made while I was visiting! She is eight and did such a good job!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

I finally made it to Happy Homemaker Monday! No thanks to US Cellular who I spent over an hour on the phone with today with NO satisfaction whatsoever! Sooo frustrating! But on to happier thoughts...

Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom is the weekly host of Happy Homemaker Monday! Check out her blog to see what she's up to. Trust me, she is one busy lady!!!

The weather...At 3:00 in the afternoon it finally hit 60 degrees and it is very windy! It has been super windy for the last 3 or 4 days!

Right now I am...On hold again with US Cellular to try to resolve the issues! Wish me luck although I am not counting on resolution.

Thinking...About how thankful I am that we are changing our cell phone carrier to another company!!! This is not the first time I have spent hours on the phone trying to resolve issues with them. Hmmm...I did say onto happier thoughts didn't I. Guess I am stuck in my frustration!

On my reading pile...I am reading The Replacement Wife by Eileen Gouge on my iPad via the Kindle App; Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy (a real-life, hard back book); our read aloud right now is Treasure Mountain by Louis L'Amour (another book in the Sackett series)

On my TV...Nothing I am interested in at the moment although I may check out the links for Downton Abbey that Sandra gave in her Happy Homemaker Monday:)

On the menu for this week...I am thinking about trying some more new soups this week. Definitely soup weather! Will let you know what I try!

On my to do list...

• Clean the bathroom
• Mop the kitchen floor
• Make thank you cards to send to customers and downline
• Get cell phone issues resolved and new phone activated!

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating...

• Still working (or not working) on a pair of socks. I need to get back to it.
• Need to get back to Granny Square afghan I was working on a few months ago. Time to put the squares together:) Now that the weather is cooler it will be more fun than when it was hot and sticky!
• Cards, cards and more cards to create!

Looking around the house...

• Kitchen floor really needs some attention
• Bathroom is half cleaned
• Need to make the bed...AT 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON!!!
• Table looks like something exploded

It really doesn't pay to be sick around here! Oh well, I should have it all back in order in a day or two. Working with what energy I have!

From the camera:

Loved this potting bench we saw at the Oregon State Fair! Do you think Hubby will build me one?

On my prayer list...

• Young friend working in China for 10 months!
• Family needing a house to rent.
• Couple getting a divorce.

Bible verse/Devotional...

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. --John 14:27

Well, that's it for me today! I hope you are having a great day:)

Kat