Oh Baby it's cold outide!

I am not complaining. I know my family and friends in other parts of these great United States are having REALLY bad weather, but for me here in Arizona in the middle of the desert, this is a first. It is really cold. As you can see the water in my bird bath is frozen and the back yard table had 1/4 inch of frozen frost on it this morning. I only know this because I went out in the wee hours to see if there was snow on my mountian. At least once a winter the Superstitions do have snow capped peaks but this morning, it was not to be. It is something I look forward to seeing every year. Maybe tomorrow!

Artichokes!!!

Where do I begin about artichokes? A family favorite that I usually make for Thanksgiving but made them for Christmas this year. I am so pleased that I didn't make them for Thanksgiving because my 14 Year old grandson JP LOVES them, and he wasn't with us for Thanksgiving. SO this was a complete surprise to me. I had no earthly idea that JP loved my stuffed artichokes so much until his step mother Anne sent me a paper he had written for school.Of course it made me weep. Funny how you never really know what an effect something you do has on another person. SO here is JP's paper:
Jonathan Pitts
My favorite food
My favorite food would have to be my Nan’s stuffing artichokes. They are the best and she makes them every Thanks Giving.
She makes it the best. She usually pulls it out of the oven when were about to eat. It smells like heaven. When you get it, it’s steaming and when u peel a pointy leaf of the artichoke stuffing comes off with it too and u just get a mouth full of warm stuffing and artichoke.
The artichokes are just like a transportation tool but they do add flavor. The stuffing melts in your mouth, but every year it gets better and better. Everyone says the same thing every time they eat it all at the same time because it’s the first thing every one eats. “Yumm” they all say.
This is my favorite food and I look forward to this holiday every year and it is all ways the best thing cooked and “you could die for it” as I say.

The first photo is of JP eating his artichoke. Isn't he sweet? Too cute for words but what else would a Nanny say about her grandson? The second photo is of my daughter Tracy, my youngest son Ian, his wife Anne and my son Shane in the background. The third photo is my daughter Tracy, my son Ian and his wife Anne. The fourth photo is my son Shane and my oldest grandson Ryan. The fifth photo is my son Jason, my DIL Anne, my grandson Ryan, and my son Shane. When the artichokes are served as THE appetizer, it is somewhat like a ritual. There isn't a sound to be heard except for the UMMS and YUMS that JP mentioned.I have to make about 20 artichokes for our family and it is not easy.It takes hours to prepare them all and many more hours to finally cook them. Every year under my breathe, I say a few nasty words and say to myself; "I wish I never started making these **** things!" But when I see the enjoyment on every one's faces it makes it all worthwhile.

Shirley Ross spoils me

She sent me this lovely sample of the watercolor resist technique from the December-January issue of Technique Junkie newsletter. Shirley was a guest designer for this issue and did a fabulous job. Thanks once again Shirley for thinking of me. I will never tire of receiving your creations.If you haven't been to Shirley's' blog yet, you should take the time to visit. You won't be disappointed. Her blog is:
Card Art,Etc.

It's Official!

The deposits are paid and we will be cruising with Tim Holtz in October 2009. When I say we, I mean my dear friend Chris from Down Under and myself of course.We are going first class in a balcony cabin, WHOOO HOOO! If you have followed my blog, you know I went on Tim's cruise to Alaska this past May. It was great fun and it was cold! A balcony cabin would have gone to waste on that cruise. But in Mexico, it will be perfect.I can hardly wait!

Christmas card from my TJ friend Shirley Ross

It is always lovely to receive a handmade card but when the return address is Shirley Ross' you know it's going to be special.I am continually in awe of Shirley's eye for detail and how precise she is with whatever medium she chooses to use.Thank you for thinking of me Shirley at this most busy time of year.

Did you know???

I have this crazy fixation on pears? I don't know when it started but it seems ever since I started stamping (a very long time ago) I have had a thing about pears. I know I am not alone as I have several friends that are the same quirky way about pears. So it shouldn't be any surprise that when I saw the Cricut cartridge Joys of the Season and noticed it had a pear in it, I HAD to get it.Well it's so cool as you can do so much with it as you can see on the card. The card face has the pear cut out in the middle, and the tag has the pear cut out also.I made this card for a friend in Australia and yes, you guessed it, she loves pears too.