Eggnog Christmas Cupcake Painting

I had so much fun painting this little "Eggnog Cupcake" yesterday. Let me know in my comments if you have any Christmas cupcake suggestions. I love it when my readers give me ideas. I'm starting another one today and should have it finished soon. Click here to check out the eBay auction for this painting.

Santa's tiny elves whipped up this whimsical cupcake creation. They flavored it with eggnog and piled white fluffy frosting on top. Deciding that it needed something extra, they climbed the side of this cute black and white cake stand and placed a little Christmas tree into the top decked with red ornaments. This magical creation is tucked under a glass cloche where snow gently falls like a snow globe. A tiny black and white checked ribbon is glued below the knob on the cloche and a black and white grosgrain ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas. Touches of glitter are applied to the frosting and the Christmas tree.

I found the cutest blog today called "Annie's Eats" and she has a recipe for Eggnog Cupcakes. Go and check it out because she has some great recipes to share.

Print Giveaway Winner

I will be putting this print in my Etsy and Ebay stores today. The links are in the right sidebar.

I want to thank everyone who entered my giveaway and left such sweet comments. The winner of my giveaway is Ruth Welter. Thanks everyone and keep checking back for another giveaway this week. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Giveaway!

My mother, husband, and I have spent the day preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. My mother got all her pumpkin pies ready to go in the oven. I mixed up my Sweet Potato Casserole (now ready to go in the oven tomorrow), baked a pecan pie, and mixed up and cut homemade noodles. Tomorrow will be so much easier with this much prepared ahead. My hubby will be spending the night running back and forth outside to keep an eye on the smoker. He's decided to smoke a turkey and a ham and must keep the fire going and adding water throughout the evening. My daughter, Amber, and son in law, Scott, will be staying with us this evening to help with the rest of the cooking.

Our son, Eric, will be in Spain until June and will be dearing missed. You can check out his adventures in Spain on his blog Shuffle the Cards. He and some of the other teachers from the US are making a Thanksgiving meal for their new friends. I'm looking forward to hearing how their turkey turned out!

With our son not home this year, it's really hit home how hard it must be for the families of our service men and women. Please keep them in your prayers this year when you give thanks around the table. These brave people are the reason for the freedoms that we have.

I'm so thankful for all my blog readers and want to "giveaway" a free print of your choice. I appreciate all the comments and read each and eveyone. Just go to my Etsy Store, and come back here to leave a comment telling me which print you would choose if you win. I will draw a name on Monday. Please leave me your email address in with your comment if you don't have a blog so that I can contact you if you win. Good luck!

Yuletide Cottage Folk Art Painting

This weekend I did a little Christmas decorating outside and finished this little painting.  I loved the wreaths in the windows of this cottage so much that I adapted the same idea at our house this year.  I'll share a photo comparison soon.  In the meantime if you are interested in this little painting it's up for bid here.

As evening settles in and the snow gently falls the McNeel family gather round the old baby grand piano arm in arm raising their voices in unison singing "O come all ye faithful". As Allyson's hands run back and forth over the piano keys playing this song from memory, she says a silent prayer thanking God for her lovely family. What a blessing to have their family home for Christmas. The grandchildren couldn't wait to get their little bodies into their snow gear as they headed out the door ready to play in the snow this morning. As Frosty was coming to life outside, Allyson and her two daughters, Libby and Crystal, worked magic in the kitchen making cookies, cakes, and pies. The men will hurry the children to bed as the women folk prepare the turkey and dressing for tomorrow's dinner. As their beautiful voices finish the final chorus, a big smile comes over Allyson's face as she thanks God once again for this beautiful blessing!

Frozen Frosty Cupcake Painting

I have so many Christmas and winter cupcakes floating around in my head, so this blog may get a little cupcake crazy!  I listed this little painting on eBay this past Thursday.  A few weeks ago I purchased an old cook book on eBay titled, The American Family Cook Book (published in 1952) and I found the perfect recipe for this painting.  I've included it at the end of this post if you'd like to try it out.

"Frozen Frosty Cupcake"

The background for this little painting is a recipe from an old cookbook that I decoupaged onto the front of the canvas. Frosty waves from his perch on top of this cupcake decorated for Christmas. Fluffy white frosting mimicking snow, is edged with a border of green piped frosting and red dots. Tiny white snowflakes adorn this scene and silver glitter outlines the recipe. A black and white checked grosgrain ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and is tied in a bow at the top.

"Frozen Cupcakes"

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup sugar

2 1/2 Tablespoons chopped nuts

1 1/2 cups crumbled sponge cake crumbs

1/16 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice

3 tablespoons chopped maraschino cherries

Whip the cream stiff and then fold in the rest of the ingredients, lightly but thoroughly.  Fill tiny cups with the mixture and place in freezing tray of refrigerator.  Garnish with maraschino cherries and candied ginger.  Serves 4.

Gingerbread Cookie Cupcake Painting

Believe it or not, Christmas is just a few short weeks away!  Yesterday I finished this little cupcake painting and put it up for auction on eBay.  One down and several more to go!!

A warm little gingerbread, hot from the oven, is tucked into the snow like frosting in this Christmas cupcake. A red liner is decorated with white snowflakes and a little tag stating the flavor. Tiny red sprinkles adorn the fluffy frosting and evergreen is tucked in at the base of the cupcake. Snow falls gently giving this cupcake a very wintery feeling. A red and white polka dot grosgrain ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and is tied in a bow at the top.

Give Thanks to our Veterans!

Before I sit down with brush in hand, I want to thank each and every veteran out there for our freedom in this beautiful country!  May God bless each of you for your service.

Soldiers come from all over the country including these quaint little villages that I so love to paint.  They come from all walks of life, yet they share one thing in common, a love for this beautiful land of ours.  You are in my prayers each and every day!

Copper Springs Autumn Village Folk Art Painting

"Copper Springs"

I've been working on this painting for a few weeks which is longer than it usually takes me to paint a scene this size.  I listed this last night on ebay and you can find it here.

Stella gets up before daylight every morning and goes downstairs to start mixing her sweet confections at the Cupcake Cottage. Her best friend Dorothy, lives just down the street above Willow Fashions and joins her every morning bright and early. Dorothy sips her first cup of coffee as she leans her elbows on the counter cradling the mug between her hands. All the while Stella is mixing a batch of her pumpkin cupcakes while her friend recounts the events of the previous day. This routine has been going on for years and isn't likely to change anytime soon. They both have lots of work to do at their respective shops preparing for the Fall Festival which is in two days. Families will be filling the streets sampling treats like warm sugared pecans, candied peppers, funnel cakes, and fudge from street vendors. Craft booths will line the streets and music will fill the air as local students play the fiddle gathering a crowd of people clapping their hands and stomping their feet. This is a yearly event in the little village of Copper Springs nestled in the hilly countryside.

I would like to thank everyone for the continued well wishes for my mother.  She is doing much better and is now driving once again. 
I will be decorating my blog for Christmas soon!

Autumn Spice Cupcake Painting

Today for the first time since August 25th, when my mother had surgery, I finally picked up a paint brush.  I finished this little cupcake painting and listed it on eBay this evening.

"Autumn Spice Cupcake"

Leaves fall like snow inside this glass cloche covering a spice cupcake with caramel frosting. A tiny black and white checked ribbon is glued below the glass knob on the cloche. This tempting dessert is displayed on a decorative black cupcake stand. Tiny orange jewels hang off the edge of the stand adding a touch of sparkle. A black and white dotted satin ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas.

It fell so good to be creative again.  I don't think I'll be doing as many originals as I did before until my mother is finished with her therapy, so I apologize if the next one takes a while.   Taking care of my family comes first and I'm really enjoying spending so much time with my mother.

Yes my hair is now gray.

In case you didn't notice in my previous post, yes, my hair is now gray.  For years I've been coloring my hair and had grown tired of trying to keep the roots done.  If you've never tried to grow your hair out after coloring it with permanent color, believe me it's no treat.  At one point my gray hair scared me so much that I bought a box of Clairol "light ash blond" and now I still have that to grow out.  It's very hard to stay away from the hair color aisle.  I know that some of you will think I've lost my mind, but I'm happy with it now and think I can live with it.  My hubbie loves it and that's all that matters.  I have natural curly hair and have to flat iron it into submission.  Curly dark hair was o.k., but the curly gray hair makes me look like a little old lady with a kinky perm.  Wait a minute, I am a little old lady!

Now in case the gray hair doesn't make you think I've lost my mind, try this recipe out:
Fill some Bugles with peanut butter and then dip the top into melted chocolate.  My daughter and son in law loved them, but I thought they were more work than they were worth.  Try stuffing peanut butter into a 100 or more bugles and see what I mean!

Going Away Party!

Wow! It's been almost a month since my last post! First of all I would like to thank everyone for their kind words of encouragement and prayers for my mother. She is doing very well and working hard to get that knee back in working order.

The other reason I've been away so long is because we've been working away at helping this good looking guy, our son Eric, get packed and ready to leave for Spain. He left on Tuesday and arrived safely in Madrid and is on the hunt for an apartment. You can watch his journey for the next 9 months on his blog "Shuffle the Cards". I believe this title was the name of the painting on his blog that was done by a famous artist in the part of Spain where he will be teaching.

I'm wayyyyyyyy behind on painting but hope to get back to work soon as my mother heals. Can't wait to pick up a brush!

Fresh Peaches and Apples from the Market

My dear friend, Winnie, and I went to Peter's Market and got some beautiful peaches. I've been wanting to freeze some because I have an empty freezer and need something to put in it. It takes a lot of energy to run a large freezer empty, so Winnie and I have decided to enjoy the produce available this fall and share the freezer.

I filled a large pot with water and set it to high. Once the water was boiling I dropped in some peaches and left them for 30 seconds.
I transfered them to ice water and the skins then peel right off.
Slice them and add 1/4 teasp. of Fruit Fresh to 1/4 cup of water and pour over the peaches. Then add 2/3 cup of sugar and stir. I then placed them in quart size freezer bags and ended up with 11 quarts of peaches. Alright, I would have had an even dozen quarts if I hadn't eaten a few that just didn't seem up to par!
I also got a few gala apples.....(looks like hubby ate a few)
and made this: (Recipe is in the new Midwest Living magazine.

My mother is in the hospital and I will be taking a break for a while. She had a total knee replacement on Tuesday and that's why I haven't posted lately. She'll need lots of help and prayers for a quick recovery so I'm off to do both! Hugs to you all and enjoys the scents and beauty of the approaching autumn season!

Celebration and Halloween Pumpkin Cupcake Paintings

I quickly whipped up two new cupcake paintings this week and listed them on eBay.

"Halloween Pumpkin Cupcake"

A Halloween Pumpkin Spice cupcake is decorated with cream cheese frosting and black and orange sprinkles. This Halloween theme continues with the polka dot paper liner and the smiling pumpkin on top. A little "Boo" tag is painted on the paper liner and a black and white checked bow is glued above it. A black and white dotted satin ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas.

I realize that it may seem a bit early for Halloween projects, but they sell quickly and if I don't start them early I won't get enough of them finished.

"Celebration Cupcake"


A rich dark chocolate cupcake is slathered with butter cream frosting and decorated with red sprinkles. This red and white theme continues with the polka dot paper liner and the striped candle. This painting is great for any type of celebration, especially birthdays. A red and white dotted grosgrain ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

I feel a sweet binge coming on!

My Daughter's First Giveaway and a New Family Member

My daughter, Amber, is having her first blog giveaway. So, rush right on over to Hoot-n-Annie to sign up for her headband giveaway because it ends tonight!


Below are a few samples of her bows:

This sweet little girl, Jersey, came into our family right before we lost our cat, Callie. She is helping to heal our hearts. Grandma Chickie, Rick's Grandmother, lost her dog a few months ago and wanted us to look for another one for her. We had been visiting Petsmart on the weekends where shelters have pet adoptions. This little dog latched onto me and it's been "love" ever since. She is the huggiest dog I've ever seen. We did get a dog for grandma which I will share in another post.

Don't you just love her markings!!!

My First Autumn Painting of the Year

"Pumpkin Harvest Time in Mapleton"

Here it is, my first autumn painting of the year. I listed it on eBay this evening. You can check it out here.

Pumpkin harvest time has arrived in Mapleton. After a long day of gathering pumpkins and arranging autumn displays in the barn for the first day of the annual "Fall Festival", the Greenway family has retired early. They will rise at the crack of dawn to meet their first customers with freshly baked pies, breads, muffins, cookies, and their specialty "pumpkin donuts". The scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm apple cider will greet the customers as they browse among the pumpkins looking for the perfect specimen.

I realize that it's not a good idea to rush the seasons, but I'm always ready for the next one a month or two before it's time. I love the scent in the air, the crunch of the leaves beneath my feet, and the food!!!!!! Oh the wonderful food that cooler weather brings with it. Soups, baked goodies, pumpkin anything........... Sorry I'm drooling on my keyboard. I'm ready to start another autumn or winter painting to stay in the zone!

The End of Summer is Near

It's the first week of August and we've had such wonderful weather this year. We've had plenty of rain, sunshine, and beautiful flowers. Still, I've had some flowers that I just couldn't get to work in the area where I planted them. I love neat gardens and just had to yank out the offenders who wouldn't behave. In the garden below I simply pulled out the flowers and added garden chairs with pillows to fill in the blank space.

This looks like a great spot to read a good book.
On the deck bench I've added extra pillows to grab when needed. The turquoise tub was a Walmart special that I can also use for ice and pop. The "Floppy Flier" frisby is handy for when the dogs want to play and my garden crocs are ready to grab when I water the flowers. I just love these little rose like pink begonias! Click photos for a closer view.
If you need something quick and different to fix for a snack, (I served these at Amber and Scott's wedding reception) may I sugget getting a jar of these absolutely fabulous "Candied Jalapenos". They come from Campbell Gardens in Kansas. Click here to visit their website. A few years ago we were at The Maple Leaf Festival in Baldwin, KS and came across their booth.

Put some whipped cream cheese in a frosting bag with a star tip or in a ziploc bag with the corner cut off. Squeeze a small dollop into the center of some Tostitos Scoops and top with a 1/4 of a slice of a pepper. I cut the slices with some kitchen shears. A jar of these peppers lasts a long time because you're only using a small piece on each scoop. They have a touch of sweetness that cools down the jalapeno. These were a big hit!

With summer soon coming to an end, I've started painting fall scenes now. This one should be finished today.

I want to thank all of my dear blog readers for your sweet comments on the previous post about our cat, Callie. Your sincere concern is much appreciated!

Our Angel

Our hearts are filled with sadness, but you'll live in our hearts forever Callie.

Callie and Bailey

Begging to go outside

We'll miss your cute face at the dinner table each night. Callie always sat in the 4th chair, laying her sweet face on the table to watch us eat.

Love you baby!