Make some snow of your own!

One of my students taught me how to make these pretty paper snowflakes.

We made giant ones using 8 x 8" squares.

Here's how you make them!

To make a paper star or snowflake

step 1:  Get ready.
You will need six sheets of paper, scissors, tape {stapler optional}

step 2:  Cut.
Fold paper to make a perfect square and cut off excess.

step 3:  Fold again to make a smaller triangle.

step 4:  Open triangle and make 5 - 6 cuts toward the center fold.
Do not go all the way to the fold; leave 1/4 inch uncut.

step 5:  Do the same on the other side.
{If you feel brave, you can make easier symetrical cuts by keeping the paper folded}

step 6:  Open the paper completely to reveal all the cuts.

Step 7:  Start taping.
Gather the centermost diamond and tape the points together

Step 8:  Flip the paper over and tape the next diamond together.

Step 9:  Flip again and tape the next diamond.

Step 10. Continue this until finished.

Step 11: Make 5 more...and gather all 6 parts and staple or tape them together.

Step 12: Roll a little tape {or staple} the sides together.

Here are a couple of YouTube links that will walk you through it.

They are so much fun to make!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gr23zSj9ro
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gr23zSj9ro

Hang up your starry snowflakes from windows all around the house! 

Wouldn't they be great to hang in a room decorated for a winter birthday party!?!!

Snowy white

{photo taken this weekend while visiting Piers Flower Basket}

pretty whites for the inside

...not too much on the outside yet, just a little dusting of snow here and there.
Tomorrow night we're supposed to have 1-3 inches.
Not a lot for what the northeast can do!

I'm thinking too of white powdered sugar dusting my cakes
...maybe some light blue sparkling sprinkles for that icy snow look.

Getting ready for Christmas decorating and baking
but most of all
looking forward to lots of family time.
 ♥
Christmas, my child, is love in action. ...
Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas.
--Dale Evans Rogers 

Wishing you love and joy all through Advent and Christmas.

Hello Summer

"Teddy bears at the beach"
cupcake made by the daughter of one of our faculty for today's luncheon.

Wishing you

a beary nice summer!
  ♥ Maria

 

For the Love of Strawberries

{I couldn't resist}

...because I love...

strawberries,

vintage

and

linens

Strawberry Quiche plate

{Good Will}

Wilendur strawberry tablecloth

{eBay vintage}

We enjoyed

a strawberry shortcake

birthday celebration this weekend.

  ♥   ♥   ♥  

Here's a peek at our yummy dessert

More strawberry days with recipes to follow.

 

Have a happy week dear friends!

Wishing you much JOY,
  ~ Maria
 

Green Is Back!

. . . and I'm lovin' it . . .

This weekend, I visited Amanda.

On Saturday, we took a 3 mile walk up and down 

"Walkway Over the Hudson." 

It's a wonderful repurposing of an old bridge.

 It was splendid to be in the sunshine again!

Happy Sunny Weekend Northeast!

. . . and we can all shout . . .

Praise the Lord!
♫

Easter Baking Fun!

Robin's egg cupcakes

made with this carrot cake recipe

and inspired by Martha's baby bluebird cupcakes.

{I need to practice making those baby birdies with their cute little beaks!}

A Mother / Daughter baking day with my sister, Doreen.

The sweets and treats were wonderful

but the sweetest treats were the

hugs and kisses

and special

closeness

we felt

with

each other

and

with family and friends

near and far.

♥

I wish you a lovely week filled with

small wonders

that

bloom into big joys!

~Maria

ps. Thank you for the Easter baking ideas, Koralee!

pss. Thank you for sending me your fun cupcake photo, Cassandra!

The Pumpkins Are Ready!

I'm following the tendrils

to the pumpkin patch!

It's time

They're ready!

Bright and Round

Orange and Gold

~

I already bought a few pie pumpkins!

They're outside with "Little Maria"

Let's see...

What other pumpkins will I find at the farmer's house?

...there are the small ones...

{2 to 5 pounds}

Baby Bear
Baby Pam
Small Sugar
Spooktacular
Sugar Treat
Winter Luxury

...And the middle size ones...

{8 to 15 pounds}

Autumn Gold
Bushkin
Frosty
Funny Face
Harvest Moon
Jack-o-Lantern
Long Island Cheese
Lumina (white skin)
Spirit
Young's Beauty

and the pretty Cinderella 

...the bigger ones...

{15 to 25 pounds}

Aspen
Big Autumn
Big Tom
Connecticut Field
Ghost Rider
Happy Jack
Howden Field
Jackpot
Jumpin' Jack
Magic Lantern PMR
Pankow's Field

...and the JUMBO ones...

 {50 to 100 pounds}

Atlantic Giant 
(This variety holds the worlds record for the heaviest pumpkin: 1,689 pounds, grown by Joe Jutras)
Big Max
Big Moon
Mammoth Gold
Prizewinner

*

I know I'll find some beauties!

They're just down the road

and around the corner
at the farmer's house!

Happy Harvest Time to You All!

Wishing you JOY and Pumpkin Size- Smiles!

What's for Dinner Sweetie?

Hmmmm
Let's see ... What's in the "fridge?"

Really good stuff!

Dive in!

I wish cooking dinner were this simple!


{photos taken last week by son, Jason ~ Indian Lake,  Adirondack Mts.}
 More Indian Lake photos coming this week for Sky Watch Friday!

It's Time To Put My Audrey Gloves On!

“I was asked to act when I couldn't act. 

I was asked to sing 'Funny Face' when I couldn't sing,

and dance with Fred Astaire when I couldn't dance

- and do all kinds of things I wasn't prepared for.

Then I tried like mad to cope with it.”

-Audrey Hepburn

~ ~ ~

I told my self to clean the house when I'm very inefficient and distracted;

I was asked to cook and entertain when I struggle with what and how to cook it.

I need to be 'cool' in the summer heat.

Thinking now,

What would Audrey do?

Try like mad!

and wear bright and cheery work gloves :D

...My gloves are bright yellow..

I saw these pink ones at Bed, Bath and Beyond and they are now on my wish list!

The baking is done!

...but now...

Back to my  "cooking"

...making shish cabobs with lots of veggies on rice for our guests tonight...

I can do that!

But, I'd better get up from here and try like mad :D

Guests are arriving today!

* * * 

~ Keeping another Audrey quote in mind ~

“For me, the only things of interest are those linked to the heart.”

♥

A Spectacular Finish!

Every year,

Price Chopper Supermarkets sponsors our

GRAND Fourth of July Fireworks.

This year was absolutely AMAZING!

Cars were lining the streets.

We walked 25 minutes from where we parked to the

Empire State Plaza.

 Rounding the corner of the tall buildings,

the sounds of the opening fireworks were thunderous!

These were the opening fireworks... the grand finale made the
EARTH MOVE!

My daughter, Amanda has a new blog, {Letters Home}

Her post today about the fireworks is wonderful.

It really describes our evening and took me way back to her childhood!

The earlier part of the afternoon, we spent at

Glimmerglass State Park.

We walked the trails and strolled the beach with our toes along the edge of Beautiful Otsego Lake.

...Summer Memories...

~ Some of the simplest moments can be the most memorable ~

Some of us had G*R*A*N*D moments yesterday though...

I thought of Janet {From Captain's Daughter to Army Mom}

and the grand reunion she must be having with her son

who ended his deployment in Afghanistan

THIS weekend!  Read about  Janet's joy here.

Thank you so much for all of your Happy Birthday Amanda and

Happy Birthday USA greetings this weekend!

"She can't sleep if ..."

...a slice of pie is still left in the refrigerator."

Mom used to say this about me
...it's still true...

. . .

So, I ate the last piece of raspberry pie

and

I bought the shoes...

Sometimes, it's okay to give yourself a little

t r e a t

<>  <>  <>

Treat yourself to something delicious this weekend!

Frosting Cupcakes {Vicariously}

I watched this

...just for the fun of it...

and then, I remembered that

Rachael

still has her Wilton cake decorating kit tucked away
here at home!

After three viewings, I made a small sample of buttercream.

and

practice and practiced.

*

It's not as easy as it looks!

but

...I love her soft, sweet British accent...

I'm making these tutorials a favorite!
oh and you'll love these two lovely ladies as well!

~ Yvonne has the most beautiful blog Stone Gable where she nurtures creativity ~
I discovered MonsterMom through Foodie Friday.
She makes the most incredible cupcakes!

 *

It's Saturday!

Off for a second cup

and to

tidy - tidy - tidy!

~

Enjoy your Saturday 

dear family and friends!

A Game of Tag

Hey Honey Bear!

Yes, Sweetie Bear...

I need to fire up the computer and hunt for a picture.

Koralee at Bluebird Notes got tagged and then

She ran over to Calm Energy

and tagged me!

I need to find the 10th picture in my computer.

But Sweetie Bear...

You have pictures saved everywhere!

I KNOW!

So, I picked the 10th one from the three main places.

*

Here's the 10th one stored right on my desktop.

I'm taking spring blossom photos and this one is fresh from this week.

Our weeping cherry tree.

It looks pretty happy though ;o)

A story about this tree is that it's supposed to be weepy...

but it wants to grow straight up.

Some of the branches are curly and twisted.

It guess it wants to be "unique"

Kind of like the red goldfish that is the tenth photo in my picture file.

Interesting story, isn't it!
*

Here's the 10th one from the external hard drive.

A dogwood blossom from last summer.

So sweet.
Only God can make a flower this perfect!

*

and Here's the 10th one from my picture folder.

It's in the first folder, the 10th picture.

...I know, I know...

It's of gold fish crackers!

This was actually on the cover of our church bulletin

a few months ago.

I thought it was pretty cool looking.

So I snapped a shot of it and saved it for a post I wrote a while back.

"More is Caught than Taught"

Sweetie bear, the Rules say you must tag 5 friends to play along

But Honey bear...

That is so difficult - to choose just 5.

So, I will sit very still and wait quietly

and see who would like to join in.

I won't peek * Promise!

Amanda?  Chris?  Wanda?  Diana?  Barb?  Dianne?  Linda?  Wanda? Marsha? Cindy? Marge?   B'Squared? Duchess? Rebecca?  MonsterMama? Ruth?  Regina?  Sandy?  It's Me?  Sarah?  Yvonne?  Rosie?  Vicki?  The Duchess of Wessex? Lori?  Cathy? Saskia {you're 'it too!} EcoRover? Misty?  New guest? 

Is that you?

*

I know that some of you can't come out to play today, but I'm thinking of you just the same ♥