August 2015 – Page 2 – Celebrate Life!

Sunday lunch…

August 11, 2015August 11, 2015 Aynaria 4 Comments

This past Sunday, I did not make it to church. I had every plans of being there, but… I had lunch to make for six people and by the time Sunday rolled around, I hadn’t made a thing and so, a little after 10:00, you could find my daughter and me picking up the ingredients needed at Redner’s. I purchased beef, chicken breast, mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, ginger, onions and garlic. I also purchased a variety of juices and back to the house we went where I spent the next 2.5 hours cooking.

I wish I could tell you that I took a photo of the food set out at the table. However, that didn’t happen. But, my daughter was thoughtful enough to take a few pictures, while I was preparing the food.

Sunday Lunch_1 Eggrolls 8.9.15 — Eggrolls: Vegan and chicken

The above picture is the last food I made, eggrolls! These were appetizers. I don’t deep fry my eggrolls. I pan fry them. They aren’t as greasy and they are still flavorful. I made vegan and non-vegan versions.

Sunday Lunch_2 Potato Salad 8.9.15 — Potato Salad

There was also potato salad. It was still warm, when it was placed on the table, so plenty of that stayed. Much to my daughter’s happiness. A few hours after being in the refrigerator, this was properly chilled. I had a spoonful and it tasted delicious. My daughter, helped herself to a large bowl. She seemed thrilled, when I mentioned that I had forgotten to give the BF some to take home with him.

And now on to the food you can’t really see. My daughter took all the pictures; however, I should have reminded her to take the covers off the food so what was made could be seen.

Sunday Lunch 3 Beef and Vegetables 8.9.15 — What’s in there? Beef and vegetables!

Here’s a picture of some of the food that was on the table. The beef and vegetables (broccoli, carrots and other things I can’t remember) was the most popular food on the table. Not too much of that was left. I cooked the beef in my pressure cooker. According to the comments, this was extremely tender! Of course it was, it was made in the pressure cooker.

Sunday Lunch_4 Chicken Breast 8.9.15 — What’s in there? Chicken, mushrooms, vegetables in a savory gravy.

Then there was this dish. It had chicken breast, mushrooms and other vegetables, spices and herbs. It was pressure cooked also and then I made a gravy from the juice that the chicken breast produced while it was cooking in the pressure cooker.

Slow ride… take it easy

August 10, 2015August 10, 2015 Aynaria 5 Comments

This past Saturday evening, I took a nice, long and leisurely ride on my BF’s Harley Davidson.

Dennis Hopper (with mustache) and Peter Fonda in scene from the movie: "Easy Rider." June 30, 1969. — Dennis Hopper (with mustache) and Peter Fonda in scene from the movie: “Easy Rider.” June 30, 1969.

It wasn’t like this scene from Easy Rider.

I was the passenger! Of course, we did not have a chance to chat too much while riding. What with the wind whistling by, it makes it a bit hard to understand what the other is saying. However, occasionally, we chatted. One of his first questions was if I was enjoying myself. I was but… the seat was very uncomfortable. I went on to say, that I did not have a lot of cushion on my butt so I could feel every single thing as we rode. He laughed and told me that I did indeed have a little butt. He patted my leg and we continued down the road for a little stretch. I waited a bit to tell him, since I knew he had been looking forward to having me along. I did not want him to be disappointed that I did not enjoy it as much as him. Besides, I was able to tolerate it for a bit. Guess what? Not too long after I told him about the discomfort, he turned around and went back home and swapped out the seat. The difference was like night and day. Wow, no more discomfort and I really was able to enjoy the experience.

The above song and motorcycle rides seem to go together.

Of course… when I hear the song, I always think of the last scene in Dazed and Confused. Have you seen the movie?

A few more cards; mainly House Mouse designs…

August 6, 2015August 6, 2015 Aynaria 3 Comments

Well… I feel like I have not been posting about much else lately besides card making. However, I do have a few foodie and furbaby posts under wraps. I’ll most likely be advance posting those over the next few days.

Handmade cards_1 8.6.15 — Stampendous: House Mouse Cling Rubber Stamp – Caffeine

Here are a few of the cards I made recently. Yes… there’s a theme going on here! All the cards, with the exception of one, feature House Mouse designs! I love that series it is so adorable. If you look at your bottom left hand corner, you’ll see a fall card that I’ve started making. I think there will be a few more additions before this one is complete.

Handmade cards_2 8.6.15

Earlier this morning, I chose this simple card for my daughter. I’ve mailed it and so she should receive her card on Saturday. She adores cutesy things such as this and she immediately said, “Awww…!” When I made it a few days ago. Although she lives with me, she loves receiving letters in the mail. I’m making the effort to send her at least one letter per week.

As you can see, it also has a matching envelope. I used an embossing folder to make the floral design you see on the card and then I used one of my stamp pads to ink the background. I then placed a baby chick stamp and bumble bee on the card and added the Love stamp. I have no idea what company made the stamps since they all were given to me by the young lady that turned me onto cardmaking about four years ago!

Handmade cards_3 8.6.15

Here’s the BF’s card! Whoa… I’m really cutting it close with my weekly writing promise. He should receive this card on Saturday, which is when I’ll be seeing him.

Thanks to the above video, I now have more stamps added to my wishlist. The Greeting Farm CUDDLY THANKS Clear stamp TGF189 and The Greeting Farm WOOD FRIENDS Clear Stamps TGF188 are the stamps she used for this card. Aren’t those animals adorable? I recently discovered the Sandy Allnock, when I searched YouTube for videos about Copic markers and card making. I think she’s an amazing paper crafter! Just look what she did with the adorable stamps that’s seen in the above video! Do you see how she added her own sketch to enhance the lovely card? Yes, she’s definitely an inspiration!

I just wrote to say, that I’m thinking of you…

August 5, 2015August 5, 2015 Aynaria 3 Comments

Yesterday, I received a call from a lady at my Lutheran church. She and her husband are in their eighties and they are a huge inspiration to me. Despite their numerous physical ailments (multiple bouts with cancer, stroke, vocal cord issues), it does not stop them from ministering to others. They are Good Samaritans for Christ. One of their main ways of serving is helping retired military veterans at the local veteran’s hospitals. When I met her a few years ago, I told her I can never complain about not wanting to serve Christ, because you and your husband have every reason to sit on the sidelines and wait on others to do so, but you don’t.

Anyway… this sweet lady called to thank me for a card that I had sent her. She asked me, “Did you make that card, Opal?” I know you are very crafty, and my husband thought that you might have made that card for us. I told her I did. She also asked did I make the envelope. It was embossed with my favorite design, which I’ve shown below. Interestingly enough that’s my BF’s favorite too.

Darice Embossing Folder - Flower Frenzy Background — Darice Embossing Folder, 4.25 by 5.75-Inch, Flower Frenzy Background

I again told her… Yes! She went on to say that she and her husband loved the card and she also said that she was taking the card to one of her gatherings, so she could show it to her friends. While that wasn’t the reason I made the card. It was nice that she appreciated it enough to call and thank me for sending it to her. I believe that random acts of kindness is something we all should do daily. She and her husband, had been on my mind a lot lately and I decided to create a card and put my thoughts onto paper. Whenever I create something, I pray for the recipient. Sometimes, as in Jennifer’s case, I don’t know who the person is who will get the item, but God knows and I pray for that nameless person as I create the item.

Making cards for other Church members

She’s not the only church member that will be receiving cards. There are three ladies, at my church, that I love dearly. They are all in their eighties and the stories they tell keep me laughing and smiling for a long time. They also do a lot of volunteer work with the church.

Art Impressions Girlfriends Cling Rubber Stamp Picture Perfect Set — Art Impressions: Girlfriends Cling Rubber Stamp – Picture Perfect Set

When I saw these stamps, I instantly thought of them.

Art Impressions Girlfriends Cling Rubber Stamp, 9 by 4.5-Inch, Wine Tasters Set

I don’t know if they drink, but they do make hilarious comments that have me in tears because I’m laughing so much.

Art Impressions Girlfriends Cling Rubber Stamp-In The Tub Set

This is their type of humor! I’ll be purchasing these stamps sometime this week. I’m so glad I stumbled upon these ladies, I found a ton more (featuring these ladies) that I love and so I have saved them to my Amazon Wish list.

Christmas Cards

Since Christmas is just around the corner, I thought I’d purchase a few stamps. I don’t get into the commercial aspect of Christmas, and I know that Jesus was not born on that day; however, I do like the extra days off of work since it gives me an opportunity to spend more time with my lovely daughter.

Stampendous, Cling Rubber Stamp, Silent Night — Stampendous: Cling Rubber Stamp – Silent Night

I adore trees and am blessed to be surrounded by them at our home

Hero-Arts-Snowy-Night-Woodblock-Stamp-0-300x300 — Hero Arts: Snowy-Night Woodblock Stamp

and so I’ll be sure to purchase a few of those…

Stampendous Christmas Cling Rubber Stamp Sheet, 4 by 6-Inch, Snowy Postcard — Stampendous: Christmas Cling Rubber Stamp Sheet – Snowy Postcard

I also love country scenes! Isn’t the above lovely? These stamps will keep me occupied for a while… I think!

Copics Sketch Markers - 36 — Copics Sketch Markers – 36

In addition to the stamps, I’ll be purchasing my Copics Sketch markers. I’m looking at the set that has 36 markers.

Great Falls Park: Maryland

August 4, 2015August 4, 2015 Aynaria 4 Comments

This past weekend, The BF, my daughter and I took a trip to Great Falls Park.

Great Falls Park, is a National Historic Park, that can be easily accessed from Maryland, DC and West Virgina. In fact, when we reached the Great Falls we were able to look across and see people in the observation deck from the West Virgina side. How neat is that?

Great Falls Park_2 8.2.15 (2) — Great Falls Park: Potomac River

We enjoyed our time there even though it was super hot!

Great Falls Park_1 8.2.15 (2) — Great Falls Park: Potomac River

It was nice to observe the awesomeness of Gods handiwork.

Great Falls Park_1 8.2.15 — The sun was very bright. Please ignore the squinting. 😉

It also gave us a chance to hang out together… even if the sun was in our eyes!

Guess what? We even got a chance to see how the aqueducts were used to let boats access bodies of water.

What is an aqueduct?

Aqueduct

a. A pipe or channel designed to transport water from a remote source, usually by gravity.
b. A bridgelike structure supporting a conduit or canal passing over a river or low ground.

These aqueducts were manual. I’m unsure how long they have been in existence’ however, I do know in order to open them it was done manually. The BF took a video and when I get around to uploading it on Youtube, I’ll be sure to post it here.

On my wish list: Spellbinders Platinum Embossing and Diecutting Machine

August 3, 2015August 3, 2015 Aynaria 6 Comments

This past weekend, I stumbled upon a new product that is scheduled to be released some time this August. It’s called the Spellbinders Platinum Embossing Machine. It will take up to 8″ embossing folders or dies, which means I can purchase much larger dies or embossing folders! Or… I can simply add a bunch of dies to one plate. I love that!

Besides the larger size that this embossing machine will accommodate, I’m really liking that this machine folds! Just like my Cuttlebug. Which means, this machine won’t take up a lot of space once I finish a crafting project.

Month: August 2015