Merry Christmas!!!!

To all my friends, family and awesome customers - 

Merry Christmas!!! 

~*~*~*~*~

You all mean the world to me, and I pray that this Christmas will be full of wonder of this beautiful holiday, and your New Year full of blessings!!!  ~Maureen

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold!
Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heaven's all gracious King!
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

  For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When, with the ever-circling years,
Shall come the Age of Gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

Sunday Morning Musings - Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing women out there - especially to those who have been a part of my life.  You mean the world to me - and I hope your special day is wonderful!!

This has been a tough week for me - really missing my Mom in heaven this Mother's day!  Life is a bit overwhelming and what I wouldn't give to be able to sit and have a cup of coffee with her to discuss it all.  She was such a wise woman.

Also, missing my daughter Heidi, son-in-law and grandkids in California.  But I am fortunate to have hubby, daughter Jenee and her kids here with me - so am counting my blessings as I get to hug them.  Here they all are - sans son in law Aaron - he was probably hiding.

I'm so behind in life right now that no one got hand-made Mother's day cards from me this year (except Paul's Mom) - but I was able to do some stamping with the kids yesterday, so they could make cards for Jenee.  

They had such a good time - and are good little stampers.  I know their Mom will love the cards and their creativity.  Now on another note - you all know my addition to coffee - well - I guess my daughter's do too - here is part of what they gave me for Mother's day!  Heidi sent me the one on the left and Jenee gave me the one on the right this morning :)  They are just too cute!

My lovely goofs - Heidi and Jenee!

On a final note today - if your Mom is still alive - I ask that you please honor her.  It is a thankless job in so many ways (paying off with hugs and kisses) - but it's so nice for them to know that you appreciate all they do.  So now's the time, while you can - an extra call, card, flower, hug or kiss - do it!! Happy Mother's Day y'all!  ~Maureen

"Honour thy father and thy mother"

Sunday Morning Musings - Life can be .....

Life has been a little tough this week - but beautiful!  First just wanted to share this yarn bowl hack I found on Facebook.  I've been crocheting a lot this week for the Veteran's and came up with this bowl (pretty heavy which you need, and a big clip.  Just feed the yarn through the clip and you have a perfect yarn bowl.  Our cat also decided she really likes yarn, and took about 10 of my scrap balls out of my basket yesterday and had them all over the house -oi vay!!

So this week - had field trips, stamp classes, family drama, hubby threw out his back, I have a bad sinus cold (thus the relaxing and crocheting), and more - but I know God is in control.  Part good, part bad - but all LIFE!  But I did want to show all the Spring beauty that is popping up around us.  Seeing this in my own yard - just has to bring a smile to my face - enjoy!

We've also picked some of our first radishes from the garden this week.  Just letting the SONSHINE in and keeping smiling!  See you soon, Maureen

Sunday Morning Musings -

The house is really quiet this morning as Jenee and the kiddos are off for a week of vacation plans during Spring break.  So - it's just Paul and I - although I miss them all - it's kind of nice :)  This is Jenee's mug I'm using - it so fits her personality.  But since they're gone - for this week - I'm Queen of Everything - lol!

So here's my thoughts for this Sunday - Spring is a coming!!!  My ornamental plum tree is full of these beautiful blossoms and it just makes my heart smile.  Also, all my iris plants have sent up their wonderful green leaves - can't wait till they are in full bloom. 

Here's a picture of three of my lovies - Zamarah, Prince and Paisley - in front of that tree this week.

And then had to share a picture of my other four lovies - Kyan, Makai, Zavian and Kamili - at their house, ready for Dr. Suess day at school.  Heidi actually made those costumes out of felt and puff paints - truly amazing.  I am so blessed with these seven amazing grand-kids!

Now Paul and I are off to church and a few other errands and then having a relaxing Sunday together.  Yesterday was crazy getting laundry and packing, etc. done for the crew.  Plus she had a photo appt. for the kids and I had an open house for my stamping classes at the local Joann's - all after a couple weeks of  me being sick - so a day of rest is just want I needed.  See you soon! Have a blessed Sunday! ~Maureen

Personal Post Monday - Thanksgiving Bliss

So we were able to travel back to Southern California for a delightful Thanksgiving with family and friends.  Even though the trip is a bit long it is well worth it to see those we love and hold so dear.  A lot went on while we were there - dinner with friends, family pictures, family dinner out and more - but none more fun than the Thanksgiving celebration.  We had it at my daughter Heidi's home and it was wonderful. The tables were really lovely with wooden box centerpieces filled with all sort of natural beauty.

There were a total of four tables set up to accommodate everyone and each was perfect!

Each place had a special place setting with Indian corn (but a really yummy kind) and little chalkboard name plates.

 There was food....

 

 and more food ... and even more food - but I couldn't take all the pictures as the people were already digging in!

 

Here's the table for the boys -

 and one for the girls -

It was such a nice day - full of all of the blessings of the season.  Only downer for the day was that the Packers lost - but hopefully they'll turn that around next game.  Hope you all had a great day too!  Thanks for allowing me a little personal share time.  ~Maureen

Personal Post Monday - Retirement Life

So - whoever said retirement life was go to slow done - I am questioning that lately :)  But in a good way.  Between keeping house, unpacking, organizing, starting my Stamping business back up here, supporting my downline in a couple different states, keeping up with my personal card making, working in the garden, canning, pickling, crocheting, cooking, traveling, reading, business networking ......well, you get the picture.  My "to do" list actually seems longer than it ever did before - but now it is mostly fun choices - and that makes all the difference. 

So, it is fall - the weather is cooler, we're starting to pull out plants we no longer want, trimming back some we will keep but have become unruly, and reaping the final harvest from our garden.  Yesterday I decided the lavender I had hung to dry was ready - so we pulled out the bunches and I started stripping the stems. 

It smells so wonderful and from the 6 bunches I dried I got this much.  Next year will dry much more and a little earlier, as I think I got it after it's peak.  But this is all new to me so I am happy with the results.

There is enough here to fill six of these little sachets, and then I'll add a little peppermint and lavender essential oils and place them in our clothes closets and linen closets.  They will absorb moisture in the air, lend a nice fragrance to keep clothes and linens from smelling musty, and the peppermint keeps moths and bugs away.

I've got to say - busy or not - I am enjoying this retirement life!!  Hope you all get to enjoy yours someday too!!  But I'm really learning to live in the minute - none of us our promised tomorrow - so we need to be happy in the here and now.  Here's to a life filled with blessings!  See you soon!  ~Maureen

Personal Post Monday - Fall decorating

So this last week we pulled out all my Halloween/Fall boxes and went through them.  We sorted and got rid of a bunch of stuff - but kept plenty to start decorating the house with some fall colors.  Fall is my favorite time of year and I love all the goldens and oranges and red and yellows of the season.  So we have fall decorations with some Halloween goodies to boot - enjoy!!

The wand tucked in was made by my daughter Heidi, The vinyl on the vase was from when SU carried that line, and the little birdhouse is all decorated with paper and made by my downline, Maria.

Candles - I love candles!! having them out on my coffee table just makes me happy!

Here is what I have burning on my kitchen island - it is an orange and spice candle and smells so good.

Here's our fireplace mantel - Frankie was made in a previous year's stamp camp, as was the framed art to the right, more candles, and this adorable little haunted house with a spinning ghost on the top.

This is what greets you at my front door.  I have a big witch's broom (that I have not unpacked yet :) but I hope to prop that just behind the green plant and add a few more pumpkins and mums.

This is in my front entry - the vinyl again is from when SU sold it.  The witch's hat - well that's in the current Holiday Mini catalog!!

and just in case you'd like to make one, and live in the local Prescott, AZ area - I'm having a class where we'll be doing these on Saturday, Oct. 3 - let me know if you'd like to join us!

The shadow box above we made at a stamp camp at Heidi's last year or the year before.  I added our paper spider webs to the front this year to give it a bit more dimension.

These are just two happy Halloween guys I have hanging around :)  The wine banner is also all Stampin' Up!

The picture above was given to me as a gift by a former Secret Sister - looks like I need to straighten that ribbon.

And I put a couple little Jack O Lanterns on the shelf by our family pictures.

This pretty spray with a cute little scarecrow peeking out, welcomes you at our front, and another at our back, doors.

Once October is over I'll take down the Halloween stuff and add in some more fall/Thanksgiving items.  It's a work in progress but so fun.  Puts me in the mood for warm sweaters, hot cider, fires in the fireplace and a good book.  See you all soon!  ~Maureen
Here is the order info on the witch's hat - click picture to order your kit!

Witching Décor Project Kit

$22.00

Witches' Night Photopolymer Stamp Set

$26.00

Personal Post Monday - It's PEACH time! with a recipe!

So the last few weeks have been crazy busy with unpacking, organizing, prepping for classes and a trip to So.Cal (more on that trip later).  But in the midst of all of that - our PEACHES ripened!  The tree was amazing and we got tons - which meant I had to do something with all of them.  We picked our first two buckets on 8/15/15 -

Aren't they beautiful!!!  And I was so pleased when I opened the first one and it was cling-free!  So much easier for prepping them.  The largest ones were about 4" diameter!

Here's the kitchen getting ready for canning to begin!  Coffee is ready in the background - as I needed reinforcements.

The first thing I made was preserves.  I used to can all the time (never peaches though) - when we lived in Wisconsin - but it's been 20 years - so I kinda had to learn all over again.  My first batch was the hardest -getting all the logistics down - but after that much easier.  There are just a lot of steps to it, and lots of dirty dishes - lol!

After a couple weeks and some more picking (about 3-4 of those large paint buckets full all together - I ended up with preserves,

And jelly and sliced peaches - all canned and ready to enjoy during the coming months.  I still have about 6 dozen small peaches - the last ones off the tree and hope to freeze them today.  Wish me luck!

Friday I made my first peach dessert (we've just been eating them sliced as they are so good).  It is Tennessee Peach Pudding - and believe me it tastes as good as it looks.  It's a pretty unique recipe - I had never made anything like it.  Has a bit of a cobbler feel - but the bottom is creamy and more like a pudding consistency.  We had it hot last night with ice cream - and I had some cold with coffee this AM - just as good both ways!  You can find the recipe here - 
http://cantstayoutofthekitchen.com/2014/08/29/tennessee-peach-pudding/  Or follow me on PINTEREST - https://www.pinterest.com/mrauchfuss/ for tons of great recipes and craft ideas.

On a final note for this personal post Monday - I wanted to share this beautiful picture from sunset on Friday - I walked in my kitchen and it was aglow with pinky orange - so I stepped out the back door and this is what I saw - so beautiful!!!

Life is full of blessings - they are all around us - please, please don't get too busy to see them.  See you all soon - TTFN!  ~Maureen