2 More Trip Photos...

Unfortunately I have been hit a string of migraines. It started lightly on Sunday evening when we were out of town. And has gotten progressively worse. So today hasn't been very productive.

But here are a few more photos of our trip...


I love this shot that Michael got of the picnic table. I bet it would look lovely in black and white too.


This photo has an effect on it too - similar to the one in the last post. I have been wanting to play with those kind of things but often feel I shouldn't with Michael's photos. This one and the other one with the effect were shots I took while he was driving.

Escape to Ouray

Back from our overnighter. It was great! So beautiful! I packed sandwiches and such so we didn't have to spend money on food. And our night in the hotel was free too. So we just paid for gas. Oh we did stop and have breakfast on Monday in Montrose so that was the only meal we spent money on. So not too bad. And more importantly we had a lovely time.

So much snow that sparkled in the sun. It was so pretty. As I mentioned last time we had our overnight and went through there was no snow. And for some reason I just think of Ouray with snow. It looks good with snow.

When we got back in town we ran a few errands and then went to pick up a calendar. We got one with the art of Daniel Merriam. Surrealist that kind of reminds me of Michael Parkes in some ways but not at the same time.

A couple photos of our trip - and I will post more later...
(click on the photos to get a bigger view of them)
I did a texture on top of this photo to create lines in it.


This photo Michael took and it is beautiful hotel in Ouray.

Prayer for Christmas

A friend shared this in her Christmas card to us this year and I thought it was beauitful prayer for Christmas...


I salute you! There is nothing I can give you
which you have not; but here is much, that,
while I cannot give, you can take.

No heaven can come to us unless our hearts
find rest in it today. Take Heaven.

No peace lies in the future which is not
hidden in this present instant. Take Peace.

The gloom of the world is but a shadow;
behind it, yet, within our reach, is joy.
Take Joy.

And so, at this holy time, I greet you,
with the prayer that for you, now and forever,
the day breaks and the shadows flee away.
--Fra Giovanni,1513

Christmas Eve Breakfast: Gingerbread Muffins

The picture trying to show off one of our new plates in addition to the muffin.

Recipe on my other blog.

Christmas Ornaments - Part 3

Pets are important to us so they get their own ornaments on the tree too. One for each the year we got them. And then we picked up that kitty cat ornament in 2005. It is the closest we have found to both of our kids.

Christmas Baking

Today was really just a good day - really good memories made today. We had a day of baking and making Christmas goodies together. Michael usually just lets me have my domain of the kitchen and baking. It is something I enjoy obviously. But I have been a little stressed this year with the everything. I just haven't had my mind in it as much as years past. So Michael spent the day with me in the kitchen and we had a lot of fun. Michael made a batch of Festive Bark and then helped me dip Ritz crackers in pepperminty chocolate. We laughed and just had lots of fun.

So this year I made:
Maple Fudge
Chocolate Fudge
Mint Thins
Festive Bark
Chocolate Caramels - which didn't turn out - we over cooked them so too hard first year that has happened
Sour Cream cookies - which didn't turn out either
Molasses cookies
Cream Cheese Cookies with white chocolate drizzled on them
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Cardamom Butter Cut Out Cookies
and Magic Bars

I made the magic bars because the caramels and sour cream cookies didn't out this year. I made them while listening to the Nutcracker. It is a favorite of mine. 

So heading to bed as I am tired tired. Will post pictures and recipes soon. 

Gratitude Friday

1. For having creativity to get some gifts made
2. For getting gifts mailed out this week
3. For Chinese take out
4. For finding 2 Christmas tree ornaments for 2008 - Santa Magic Man and then another we are happy we found but won't get here until the 24th
5. For XM Holiday Pops channel to hum with when baking and wrapping gifts
6. For still getting so much from Eat Pray Love - as I am reading it again - for the 5th time
7. For a winter wonderland here - lots of pretty white fluffy snow
8. For my family sending us a package of little gifts to open until Christmas. They are a lot of fun and cute! It was very thoughtful of them and I am thankful for their kindness.

Christmas Ornaments - Part 2

Just a few Santa ornaments...which seem to be a favorite of ours. The one that my Aunt and Uncle gave us is a favorite of Michael's and mine. The 2008 Santa is called the Magic Man. We also have another yearly ornament coming but it won't be here until Wednesday. It is one that we were really searching for and having some problems. But did find one we liked on Cafe Press.

Just some daily stuff...Thursday night I made several batches of candy and then got dough ready to bake today. I made chocolate caramels, maple fudge, chocolate fudge and festive bark. I mixed dough up for molasses cookies, sour cream cookies, cardamom butter cut out cookies and cream cheese slice cookies. I haven't baked the cardamom cookies yet but will tomorrow. The sour cream cookies totally flopped. It seems to be an altitude issue as I never had this problem before living in Colorado. They just are flat and melt. I think I need to cut the sugar down but not sure. I still want to bake peanut butter blossoms and the cardamom tomorrow. Oh and the Ritz cracker mint thins - I need to make them too.

Christmas Busy in Full Force

* We sent off a BUNCH of packages today. The clerk at the post office was amused that all our packages went to different places.... California, Idaho, North Carolina, Washington, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee and Texas.

* Our neighbor had Christmas carolers earlier. I think they were from her church. I was hearing fa la la la la la la and I couldn't figure out what I was hearing at first. But then muted everything and finally figured it out.

* I am utterly exhausted. Going to bed.

Christmas Ornaments - Part 1

Michael and I buy one (or sometimes more) ornament a year. We haven't got ours for this year yet as it is kind of specialized and we are having problems finding anything like it. I think we are going to have go to cafepress or etsy to find it.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful...
1. for some creative energy I have going on right now - especially when I needed it (will be posting pictures in the coming week)
2. for the book Soul Collage making me think and giving me me something I was needing
3. for finding my Christmas spirit
4. for one of my favorite Christmas traditions - decorating the tree with Michael. It is a very special tradition we both cherish. Going through each ornament as we hang them and reminiscing with memories associated with them. Sitting and just reflecting and enjoying the glow of the Christmas lights sparkling off the ornaments.
5. for more chocolate then need but was wanting....Michael came home with about 3 different chocolates this week for me. I complained about all my pretty Christmas bowls were empty. Well they aren't anymore although those dove chocolates do seem to be disappearing pretty quickly. :)
6. for the simple pleasure of coloring and watching Polar Express
7. for Michael's Dad doing so well after surgery

I recognize that I have much more to be thankful for in my life.

Blog Hopping

This site that I hopped to the other day features quite a lot of handmade etsy shops. And there is so many wonderful holiday items. But thought I would just give these 3 links on Poppy Talk.


Holiday Ornament 2008 Guide
101 Reasons to Buy Handmade
Holiday Gift Tags

Thanksgiving

We had a really nice slow Thanksgiving. I paced myself on everything really well this year. Michael said I should have been taking some notes so that I remember how to do it next year - I might jot some down after this entry for next year. Everything got done right about the same time. Everything turned out. So it ended up being a very good Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a Thanksgiving filled with love. Just as I did. There are so many things I am thankful for and I try to be aware of them everyday as the pass through my daily life. And I will continue with that throughout the next year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Overnighter

We had an absolutately fantastic time. Relaxing and fun....just wonderful quality time. We saw some of the most amazing scenery. When Michael downloads pictures, I will upload some here. Very tired but so happy. More on it all later.

A link to the scenic byway we took today - San Juan Skyway. Only took a portion of it but it was so beautiful.

Escaping

Tomorrow we are going to escape....just for overnight. We have some free hotel nights to use up before the end of the year. And we just can't seem to get away for a whole weekend so thought why not just an overnighter. Our first choice was Ouray but they are booked. So another place I have always wanted to go is Durango. Michael went to college at Fort Lewis in Durango so I have always wanted to see it. We are both looking forward to unplugging and just enjoying our time.

We are doing it on the cheap - with the free night. And then today I baked a ham and also made a loaf of bread. So we can bring ham sandwiches with us so we don't have to spend money going out to eat.

It is just so nice to get away from it all - even over night.

Art & Food

Today we were up early and out of the house for a Saturday. We had to go do some errands before going to The Gallery B&B's Art Show. It might be the last one of its kind as they are closing the Bed and Breakfast and 2 of their in house artists are moving to a new studio. So we really wanted to be there and support all of them as we have always loved all the art shows they have put on and they are just good people. I picked up a little bowl for Michael's office for his birthday - which he knows about since he was there and said he liked it. And we also got an art piece by Mary Mansfield. I really beautiful mixed media piece that we are probably going to hang in our bedroom.

They always have food out there at the shows one thing was ham with cream cheese spread on it and then wrapped around a pickle. It was really good. So I was telling the ladies there about something I made for a meeting that Michael went to...BLT Roll-ups. The BLT roll-ups was new for me. I was reading another roll up recipe that had bacon and thought why not BLTs. They ended up tasting pretty good. But I never can make my roll ups look perfectly round like most photos I see of them. Anyway....I mixed 1/2 cup of cream cheese (I used low fat cream cheese), 1/4 cup ranch dressing (also light), 1/4 cup mayo (and again light), 1/2 cup diced tomatoes and spread that on tortillas (used 8 tortillas total - I think). I cooked up a whole package of bacon but didn't use 5 slices. I broke the bacon up into little pieces and sprinkled on top of the cream cheese layer. I then chopped some greens up and sprinkled that on as the last layer. Rolled up and cut into bit size pieces - securing with toothpicks.

Here is a picture of them...



Side note: I love that plate I got it for $1 when we were out shopping while my parents were here for my birthday.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful....
1. For the hours of entertainment Buffy the Vampire Slayer brings me
2. For orange juice - tastes so good when I have a cold
3. For an amazing friend that gave me a gift more then one...the book that will give me self-awareness that I have been seeking and for the note she included that means so very much to me
4. For fuzzy sock to keep my feet warm in bed...where I am going in a moment
5. For finding all sorts of good images online for collages

Blog Hopping

I am a menu planner so this blog has 3 Mom's menus for the week. I always like looking through others menus to get new ideas for ours.

Because as I stated last week I love pumpkin...I found this at Simply Stated - 10 Pumpkin Cocktails and Desserts.

Free Thanksgiving tablescapes from Paper & Cake. Free download button on right sidebar top.

At Poppytalk decorating....Pumpkin Time. They are really unique.

Soul Collage

A very dear friend of mine, Jessica had been doing Soul Collage. I have seen her breathtaking and moving cards. She inspired me with them. It was one of those things that I thought someday I will get the book and do the work for it. Right now I am still in that "I am 40 years old (41 years old now but started when I hit 40) and what do I have to show for my life and where do I want it to go the next 20 years" phase. So doing that kind of work probably would be very good for me but as always things just get put aside.

Well after yesterday I don't have an excuse anymore. Jessica gave me a gift of the book and brought together 4 of us friends to do this together. I am looking forward to exploring all that comes with it.

Here is another link about them too that talks about how to make them.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful...
1. for the new piece of equipment we got for our business that ROCKED! Today was really extrodinary and the possibilities of where we could go with this is something I truly express gratitude in.
2. for all the people that have stood behind us for this change and really supported and believed in us...really Michael being able to give them quality.
3. for coming home after being in Denver and being able to sink into our bed that has clean sheets on it and extra blankets
4. for apples and crisp fall days - this past week I enjoyed our crisp fall days and bright red juicy applese too. Thankful for the beauty in those simple autumn reminders.
5. for Michael who truly is awesome in so many ways. Tonight after we loaded the car with all our equipment in Denver, I had a really bad asthma attack as I have a cold that moved to the lungs. It was to the point I almost said bring me to the ER. But he calmed me down, stopped and got me cold medicine, water, a little cute Christmas cup (because I requested airborne too so he wanted me to be able to take it right away) and just everything I needed to feel better. He pulled over and talked to me and held my hand - and just did everything he could to make me feel better. I am so very grateful to have such love in my life.