For Today....

"We need to find God,

and he cannot be found in

noise and restlessness.

See how nature--trees,

flowers, grass--grows in

silence; see the stars, the

moon and the sun, how

they move in silence...

We need silence to be able

to touch souls."

--Mother Teresa, 1920-1997

A Gift For God

Go Forth and Read...

Good Afternoon....
I have been online today catching up with some things...and working with a website group that I will have info on tomorrow...
But in the midst trying to read through my list of blogs...I found a post that I was saying "Amen" too and thought I would share it with you.. It is from the Bayou Belles -- go check it out and we will chat more tomorrow...
Hugs,
Debbie

Just A Note...

Just a quick note.....I am going to delay the next Scrap/Journal post for a couple of weeks. I am in the midst of painting and moving my studio and there just isn't a spot to work in right now...so I will be back with the journal in two weeks...ready to go. I will be posting other "stuff"...but let's delay the book for now. This will give some of you time to catch up, get started and such....as I would love to see your pictures and ideas.

Sweet dreams all....post more tomorrow!!
Hugs,
Debbie

Scrap Journal....Part 3

I have been feeling like a real slacker with this...so I took some time today to play with my journal. It is so funny, at times you feel like you don't have the time...but once you start--you get caught up in it and it is fun, reflective and I always leave it with a smile.

So thoughts on working with your book: There are times when I don't really have a picture in mind or a full "theme" for a page... I can see the page layout, or I have paper or accessories that I really want to use for something...so I will do the layout...and see what picture or idea comes together for finishing it later.

The two pages below were layouts that I did for my hubby and son....I haven't figured out exactly what I want to do with them yet...I just got the papers put in (sometimes I go ahead with accessories for the page too)...and then I use a post it note to remind me of who/what the page is for and any additional info I want to remember. You can have the best idea for something...and just know you are going to remember it...then you look at the page a few days, a month, 6 months later and haven't a clue about what you were thinking!!!! LOL So those post its are life savers at times.

The next two pages were completed today and are great examples of how this has worked for me. Both were layouts that were already finished....one came together exactly as I had it in my head and one came out of the blue and was not anywhere near what I thought I would use the layout for!!!

The first page is for our sweet dog, Abby. The layout has been done for awhile...I just found great accessories for this page and couldn't wait to do it. I just hadn't taken the time to get a picture of Abby together and write anything. Today I was able to catch her during her nap, snap a quick pix and write up a short paragraph....run them off on the computer and paste them in.

I have space to add another small picture or more writing later....but at least the "bones" are in place!!!

The second page was a total surprise. In looking though my pictures, I ran across my all time favorite childhood picture...it is of me and my grandfather. I simply adored this man!! Do you remember Randy Travis' song about his grandfather..."I thought, he walked on water"? That is what I thought of this man.

But the layout...the paper was from a "fairytale" paper group with glitter and other embellishments. I loved the look, but truly had no idea what I was going to use it for. As I played with the picture and flipped through the book....I saw the quote that went with this page..

A good memory is one

that can remember

the day's blessings

and forget

the day's troubles.

This verse caught my heart as that is truly how felt about the days I was able to spend with my grandfather. So I began to play with the layout and here is how it turned out.

I don't think the picture does the page justice...but I have to say it was a surprise and one of my favorite pages so far.

My advice for this week??? Think outside the box....don't worry about being so ridgid with your book....leave it open to lead you to new ideas.

I know Tiff has been working on her book.....check out her page at: http://serendipitylifephotos.blogspot.com/ (great job!!! thanks so much for sharing!!!!!)

Just remember...this is open ended, you can start at any time. We would so love for more of you to join in and share your pages, your ideas, questions, comments....

Hugs to you all.....now go journal!!!!

Debbie

Hi, My Name Is Debbie and I Am A....

coffee creamer-aholic...and I can prove it, just check out this picture of the shelf on the inside door of the refrigerator...


When grocery shopping this month, I went on a bit of a creamer binge. I know, crazy huh? It started with the purchase of our Keurig coffee maker....I don't do black coffee, I have to fou-fou it up a bit, so we started playing with different creamers...and then on to fun coffee drinks with the flavored syrups, creamers, whipped creamed, sweetened spice toppers. Then we started adding the flavored creamers to cookie recipes and such, with great results. This morning I made waffles that I added French Vanilla creamer and nutmeg too...they were great.
Just an idea for sprucing up some of our tried and true dishes....

And let me leave you with one of my favorite casserole recipes....

Garden Chicken Casserole:


2 c. chicken broth
2/3 c. cooking sherry, divided
6 oz. pkg. long grain and wild rice mix
1 small onion, chopped
2 small carrots, grated
1 small green pepper, chopped
1.4 c. butter or margarine
3 c. cookd chicken, diced
4 oz. can mushrooms, sliced
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
2 c. (8 oz) American sheese, shredded
1 c. evaporated ilk
1/3 c. parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 c. almonds, siced

In a medium saucepan bring broth and 1/3 cup sherry to a boil. Add contets of rice package, cover and simmer over low heat 25 to 30 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. In a dutch oven, saute onion, carrots and green pepper in butter until soft, about 5 minutes. Add rice, chicken and mushrooms, mixing well. Place cream cheese, American cheese and milk in a saucepan and melt over medium heat stirring until smooth. Add to dutch oven with remaining sherry, mixing thoroughly. Pour into a buttered 13 x 9 casserole dish. Top with parmesan cheese and almonds. Cover and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35 minutes, uncover and bake 15 minutes longer or until bubbly. Casserole may be refrigered overnight before baking. If refrigerated, increatse baking time to 45 minutes covered and 15 minutes uncovered.
(we don't use the sherry)

Have a good weekend!!!
Hugs,
Debbie

Scrap Journal 2

Don't waste time

in day dreams,

make up your mind

what to be and

begin.

--Mary Englebreit

Last night, I decided to play with moving some things around in my new computer area....seemed like a good idea at the time...till my wireless connection decided it was not happy with my new configuration. Soooo, with a few changes I was able to get back on here today. My wireless box is far more tempermental that I thought!!! LOL

So where were we???? Back to our Scrap Journals!!! How is everyone doing??? Have you started....or do you even have some fun ideas for it. I would love if you would share your ideas, thoughts, pictures and such. Doing this as a group that brainstorms can really help get your creative juices flowing.....so share the big and the little ideas...all are welcomed!!!

I have started a small notebook for my purse to jot down ideas. You know you always think you will remember things...but sadly they seem to flow out as quickly as they came in right now.

There are two website I would like to share with you for ideas.
One is: Angie Pedersen's Book Of Me Site
On this site you will find out about her book. It is full of lots of layouts and ideas for your pages. I grabbed a quote from this site that really sums up what we have been talking about with this...

When and old (wo)man dies,

a library burns. --African Proverb

Makes you think, doesn't it. When we don't share these fun things about ourselves...those stories die. Some of the things that you are thinking about sharing in your book....wouldn't you like to know some of those same things about your friends, family, other special people in your life?

The next site is: Big Picture Scrapbooking

They offer some great classes here...some for free, some there is a charge. Right now they have a free class I am starting about your life journey. They also have one about your wellness journey that looks really good.

Several years ago, I started a scrapbook on getting fit and my thoughts on weight loss as I was working through it. Sadly, some things occurred that got me off track with that, but I know at the time it was a great tool for really lookig at the Big Picture of how little changes can affect your outlook. (Maybe this is something we can tackle at a later date if there is interest).

I thought it might be fun to share some quotes each week on a different topic...so if they work for any of your pages...take them and have fun:

This weeks focus is friendship....

• A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you've forgotten the words. --Unknown

• A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg, even though he knows that you are slightly cracked. --Bernard Meltzer

• The definition of a friend is someone who's coming in the door when everyone else is going out. --Dr. Phil McGraw

• My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. -- Henry Ford

So what are some of the pictures I am going to be working with in my book this week...

My beloved basket!!! Several years ago, I ran a craft mall in Indiana. One of our vendors was a school teacher that made beautiful baskets. She designed this one for teachers, because it was just the right size to fill with books, paperwork and such that they need to take home each night. It became our best seller and all the girls that worked there carried one. They are so great to fill with your stuff....bring home and empty....leave at the front door and through the evening and next morning fill with all the "stuff" you are going to need that day and head out the door. I truly, truly "heart" this basket!!! It goes with me almost everywhere!!!!


Knitting...I am not a great knitter. I will not be winning awards for designs, or finished pieces...but I love knitting simple items. Great for gift giving, for household items and just for something to occupy my hands when we are sharing some family tv time.


The other items on this weeks "favorites" list:
my garage studio
front porch
a son that cooks
my blog


So dear fellow journalers....what are the faves on your list this week? Have you started your book....care to share some pictures??? I would love to hear from all of you!!!
Have a great week...now go scrap something!!!
Hugs,
Debbie

The GiveAway.....

I have to share with you that I love doing give-aways. It is a chance to share with you some fun things that I have found and to get your feedback on them too.

We are late in getting this going...I apologize for it being late, but there are just some times around here when "life" just gets in the way.

So we gathered all the entries.....each with it's own little slip of paper...stuffed into my favorite crockery bowl...and when the name was drawn it read....

Tiffany Cross

Huge, huge congrats to Miss Tiff!!! Your box will be on it's way on Monday.

ALSO, be watching for a new giveaway. I met Sheila White at the library a couple of weeks ago...she was bringing in her new book to share with us. After chatting with her, she has sent me an autographed copy of her book, Sewn. It is a story based on her family....."One family was patched together with love, courage and the will to be together. They were...Sewn." So keep checking in and I will be posting a drawing for this book....how great to share someone's "first"...and down the road to say..."I knew them when...."

About our scrapbook project....I am excited to be back on track with it this Monday. I have been so tied up with the scrapbook job that I took on..it took far more time than I thought it would but I had so much fun jumping back into it. Isn't it funny, that when you clear things out of your life...doors start opening. I hadn't scrapped in forever. But pulled out my items to do our online class....organized and set up an area to work on this....and then out of the blue I get an offer of a "scrapbooking" job.... It is just a reminder to me that we can let ourselved get bogged down with stuff....and new things can't come our way till we "clean house".....it was a great reminder to me.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!!

Hugs,

Debbie

Project Unending.....

Hello!!!
Just wanted to check in....I have till 6 pm today to finish the scrapbook project that I took on....it has been a much bigger project than I anticipated...so hang in there...I wil have the drawing results, new info on our online scrapbook project....and more.

Hugs to you all...and back to large cups of coffee, chocolate and this darn scrapbook!!! LOL
Debbie