This week I finished a very fun special order that I will share soon.

Next week I plan to spend more time in my garden.

I did take time to make this teacup birdfeeder this summer...

I also plan to spend more time doing this....

I'll also be making time to pick peaches at the orchard.  This was the end of last years peaches.

I'm not taking any more orders for now.  I have one left to finish and then I'll be spending time creating new paintings for my shops. 

Paige's Pink Petal Cake

Paige is my dear friend, Linda's, granddaughter.  She's another very special (13 yrs. old) sweet young lady loaded with talent.  Paige signed up for a cake decorating class and sent me this photo of her first cake: 

I'm so amazed by the talented three young ladies that I have posted about:

Lindsay Grace, Makayla, and Paige

These three ladies have so much talent and vision in their lives!

I did a painting for Paige to honor her first creation:

Pretty Paige's Pink Petal Cake was her first cake decorating experience. What a delight to the eye and a treat for the tummy!

We are all very proud of you young lady!

This little painting is now available as a print in my Etsy and eBay stores.


  

Coffee Cake Cupcake New Print

My new print, "Coffee Cake Cupcake" in now available in my eBay store and my etsy store.

Tucked into the center of this delicious cupcake is a filling made of brown sugar, toasted pecans, and ground cinnamon. This scrumptious treat is topped with a fluffy layer of cinnamon butter cream frosting.

Compare my garden bike to last years photo in my blog header.  I think the cone flowers are about to take it over. Click on the photos for a closer view.

I'll try to get a new photo to replace the above header so you can see the difference between this year and last.

Is anyone having trouble with their Knock Out roses this year?  Mine have been in the ground around 4 years and I've lost several this year.  In the spring they all looked great and bloomed beautifully.  Then one by one they started turning brown (not due to lack of water) and dying out.  I've now dug up 4 bushes.  It's almost like someone is spraying them with Round Up. 

Two Weeks of Pure Joy!

Guess who's home?

Our son, Eric, got home July 1st from Spain.  He will be home for three months and will return there to teach for another school year.  His sister sure looks happy to see his smiling face!

I'm thinking the dogs look pretty happy too!

We've had so much fun with our niece, Makayla, too.  She spent the last two weeks with us and we definitely hope this will be an annual event. 

She made gluten free cupcakes for our "craft night".  Amber is allergic to gluten and Makayla made her a special treat.

I think she could make some money selling cupcakes!

I gave Makayla one of her great grandmother's aprons. She packed it carefully away and then chose this one to wear while she was baking.  My friend, Winnie, gave this cute polka dot number to me.  I love my aprons and wear them all the time. 

Looks like she could have her own baking show!

This is Makayla's "craft night" project.  She had never painted before and decided she wanted to paint this brick doorstop.  This gal is full of talent.  It's amazing how young people aren't afraid to jump right in and learn something new.

Pretty amazing don't you think!

We went to the Lawson Picnic which is where my hubby and I had our first date.  Makayla and Eric had a great time on the rides.

The petting zoo is always a big hit too.

and last, but not least....

she had her first motorcylce ride with her uncle Rick.

We already miss you! 

Scott Cox as Thom Pain

I'm still on my vacation, but had to stop in to let you know that if you are in the Kansas City area, come by to see my Son In Law in his one man play:

Celebrate 4th of July Cupcake Painting

This little 5" x 7" cupcake painting, "Celebrate", is up for auction on eBay. 

Celebrate the 4th with a bang and a sweet patriotic treat! This delightful confection is baked inside a red and white striped paper liner then topped with blue frosting and sprinkled with tiny white stars. A lit sparkler is tucked into the top of the cupcakeand a red and white checked ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Our son, Eric, will be home from Spain July the 1st, so I'm going to be busy getting his room cleaned and preparing for his homecoming.  The 1st can't seem to get here quick enough for me!

Baby Cakes Chocolate Cake

I finally had time to add a new painting to my Etsy Store. 

Dusted with confectioner's sugar, this two layer chocolate cake is sandwiched between sweet buttercream frosting. Dainty pink and aqua roses grace the top of this treat to the eye and is proudly displayed atop a yellow pedestal cake plate. A pink and white checked bow is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

I'm planning to work on a 4th of July cupcake this week and then will probably take a little break from painting.  My niece is coming this weekend to spend a couple of weeks with us.  Yeah!!

Yard Work

This is why I haven't been blogging much lately:

It's great having a husband that has so much talent!  I love how he can turn a mud hole into a work of art.  Thanks honey!

We found these great chairs at Westlake Hardware and bought six just in case they ran out of this color.  On the table are fresh picked peonies from our garden.

Another view of our new stone patio from a different angle.

A view at night showing our ghost.  Everyone who has ever lived in this house tells us it's haunted.  Strange things do happen, but we've been very happy here for nine years now, so I guess the ghost likes us!

I'm sorry that I've forgotten to answer two questions from my readers. 

#1.  Is that your garden in the header?

Yes.  That photo was taken last year and hopefully that area will look even nicer this year so I can change the header.

#2.  Where did you get the "tea toweling by the yard" shown in a previous post?

That has been a secret because I wanted more yardage.  When I went to the website they only had one yard left.  I was being selfish because I didn't want them to sell out before I got more.  They informed me that they had more on order and they would let me know when it arrives.  I feel guilty for hiding this information from you and I'm now going to share it:

Sorry I had to remove this link because it now routes to a porn site.  How awful is that!

A Little Green Thumb Gardening

My daughter thinks I have a green thumb.  So, last month she got her father and I to come visit to help with their yard.  We placed some plants in this cute little area off her kitchen door and placed little saucers in the dirt for edging.  I love her rooster dinner bell!

The wagon wheel was already there and will look great as a backdrop to the flowers.

Last year I painted these chairs for their porch and made them some pillows from an old tablecloth.  Amber and I planted some ferns behind them that we took from our garden.

Amber and Scott love to visit wineriers and have edged a few of their flower beds with wine bottles.

The guys were busy building this raised box for their vegetables.

The house number sign that I made as part of their wedding gift was placed by the front door.


Amber and I got busy planting and mulching everything.

Looks to me like someone else is developing a very green thumb!

Memorial Day Weekend

Soon Memorial Day Weekend will be here and families will be enjoying a long weekend.  Let's remember to take time and honor the brave men and women who have died serving our country and fighting for our freedom.  Let's also pray for these families of our fallen soldiers that God will comfort them and guide their lives.

I don't have any paintings to share because I've been working hard on custom orders.  Some of these are Christmas presents ( I can't believe how organized some people are), therefore, I can't share them for that reason as well.  So, I'll share some of my recent purchases from two of my favorite stores:

I love these little polka dot plates from Target with matching napkins.  The plates are melmac.

I found these cute little bowls at T.J. Maxx. I snatched them up just as they were putting them on the shelves.  They also had coffee cups to match.  I have so many mugs that I decided the bowls were sufficient.  Talk about self control.  I really wanted those mugs!

Draped beneath my T.J. Maxx nesting bowls is four yards of tea toweling by the yard that I purchase online.  It comes hemmed along the sides and you just need to cut them to the length you want and then hem each end.  I think I'm going to make slip covers for my pillows on the deck instead.  I have lots of other ideas for this fabric too.  Looks like I'm going to have to order more soon.

Now if you have a weak stomach don't look any further. I found this on my front porch this morning along with our neighbors beautiful cat who was taking a nap all curled up in the sunshine.  As much as I hate mice, this is pretty sad.

R. I.P.

Recipe for Maple Brown Butter Frosting

I have to apologize because I forgot to include the frosting recipe for these cookies in a previous post.  This frosting really makes this cookie and would also be great on cake.

"Maple Brown Butter Frosting"

3 cups sifted confectioners sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup milk

2 tsp. maple flavoring

Sift sugar and set aside.

Melt butter over medium heat until golden brown.  Watch closely so it does not burn.

Add butter to sugar, scraping all the butter into the bowl.

Add milk and maple flavoring.  Stir until smooth.

Spread on top of cookies with a knife or offset spatula.

I would like to share just one more photo of our trip to Madrid, Spain. 

Egyptian Temple of Debod

I know that it looks like we were in Egypt, but this was an old temple that was donated to Spain by Egypt.  I love the reflection in the water.  Promise not to bore you with any more vacation pictures.

Great Granny Square Giveaway

Hop on over to my daughter, Amber's blog.  She had a granny square swop where people signed up to crochet granny squares and mailed them to her.  Each person crocheted one granny square for everyone who signed up. She divided them up and sent an assortment to each person.  At the last minute they had a couple of people back out and now she has  several squares left over.  She is giving a set of granny squares to the lucky winner. 

Pumpkin Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies

This wonderful recipe came from Bakerella.  I've made it several times and it's always a hit.  I had my husband take the rest of the cookies to work this morning so they wouldn't end up on my hips.  Too late!!

The little red and white polka dot plates are a recent Target purchase and the yellow bowl came in a set of three from T.J.Max.

"Pumpkin Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies"

2 1/4 cup self-rising flour

3 tsp pumpkin pie spice

3/4 cup butter, room temperature

1 1/4 cup light brown sugar

1 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 cup chopped pecans

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks (12 oz. bag as far as I'm concerned! I used chocolate chips because that's what I had.)

Whisk together flour and pumpkin pie spice.  Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter.

Add both sugars and beat until light and fluffy.

Add vanilla.

Add eggs one at a time and beat until combined.

Add flour/spice mixture to sugar mixture in three additions.  Alternate with pumpkin in two additions, ending with flour mixture.

Stir in chopped pecans and chocolate chunks/chips.

Drop on cookie tray lined with parchment paper.

(I use a cookie scoop)

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Makes about 4 doz.

Let cool.

In the above photo with all the cookies on the counter, if you look carefully, you can see this cute little cupcake stand that my sister gave me as a birthday gift a few months back.   Click to enlarge the photo below so you can see all the cute cookbooks that it's standing on. I purchased the bottom three from Amazon and will bake something from them soon and give them a review in a future post.


Now grab a warm cookie and follow me to my little reading corner in the living room.  Grandma made the quilt that hangs on the back of the chair. 

This is my view directly across from my reading chair.  I know most decorators don't like family photos, but I love mine and proudly display them. This table lamp matches the floor lamp by my chair and sits on top of an antique ice chest. 

This is one of the cupcake paintings that I've repeated in order to get a better photo for larger prints.  It's available in my Etsy Store.  The larger prints are available on my new Fine Art America Store.

We had three inches of rain last night with flash flooding in our area. So, the good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, I'm off to the post office!