It's A Cookie Kind of Day

Good Evening Internet Friends!

For some reason this evening I really wanted fresh cookies.  So, after dinner that is what my son and I made:

Cream Cheese Cookies!

I found the recipe while organizing the cupboard the other day so maybe that was why I was craving cookies☺  My mom used to make these as an infrequent treat for us, so we really thought that these cookies were "Top Drawer"!

Cream Cheese Cookies:

combine in electric mixer and beat until smooth:

1/2 cup butter (not margarine) 

1 Cream Cheese Block (226 g size)

add in and mix until thick and creamy:

1 room temperature egg

1 box of Vanilla cake mix (I use French Vanilla)

Chill dough in refrigerator for about 30 minutes so that dough is easy to shape into balls.

Roll formed balls of dough in powdered sugar.

Bake at 350F for about 12 minutes.

Enjoy!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Ready....Set....It's Monday!

Good Evening Internet Friends.

Today was a great day considering it was Monday.  After dinner my son and I went out for an hour bike ride.  We took Ada Blvd most of the way along the river and then returned home via the surrounding neighborhoods

This is one of the things I love about living in an old neighborhood.  We have the river valley close by, our streets are wide  and there are lots of bike and walking trails.

After my son went to bed I decided to work on a tea towel kit that I bought last summer at Prickly Pear Quilts:

TAH DAH!  Makes my kitchen look "Top Drawer" as my son would say! ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Cross Stitch Along Update

Good Evening/Good Morning Internet Friends!

I decided that I would post just once for Sunday/Monday as it is late Sunday evening here in Alberta and almost time for me to post my progress on the Cross Stitch Collection Stitch Along.

Not that today was anything spectacular with respect to crafting.  After lunch my son and I went to the St. Albert Library and picked up some books, including one of my favorite quilting books ☺

Stopped at Cobb's for some bread, scones, and cinnamon buns and then we went to the car wash and washed the GO GO GO Toyota:

Hubby will be back home from work later this week so the X-ice tires will come off and the LTX will go on.  Then the May snow storm can come as it always does!  ☺

As for the progress on my Stitch Along, here is what I have managed to accomplish:

Yesterday I did some more on the pink dress trying to get all the one stitch here and theres filled in and am proud to report that for next month the dress should be complete!  I am finally starting to see some definition in all the stitches and that has provided a sense of accomplishment.  Now to try and finish this in somewhat of a timely manner......♫

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Churn Dash Block 8

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Today my son and I chose to have a Do Nothing Day ☺

We slept in, ate a late breakfast, watched cartoons, had lunch, ate cookies, and made pizza for dinner:

I used a new pizza dough recipe and it was alright, not terriffic though, but at least we ate!

After dinner I made another Churn Dash Block for the Churn Dash Challenge:

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Another Gift Bag

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Earlier in the week I made yet another gift bag in which to hold a small gift.  Once again I used my Paper Pumpkin kit.  Not sure what I will do when I fun out of these bags from that kit ☺

So quick and easy to make, but as always, loved by the receiver!  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Step Something of Something...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Had to have my yearly dilated eye exam done today, so it was late this evening before I could actually do any crafting.  BUMMER, cause I even had to be off from work today to get this test done.

This evening I completed the first part of one of the steps that I am (behind of course) on for the Moonshine  Block of the Month I am participating in.

Here is what I have "sew" far:

TAH DAH!

Now off to finish a load of laundry and maybe get a little sleep as tomorrow is a busy day at work!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Work In Progress Wednesday

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Half way through the work week ♫

This evening I took out my Raise The Roof quilt and made another two of the log cabin blocks:

Not sure how many I have completed and or how many more to make, but at this time I am just focusing on getting to the bottom of that bag of half square triangle center squares sitting on my desk ☺

Since it is Wednesday I figured it was time to participate in The Needle and Thread Network's weekly Work In Progress Wednesday. Make sure to check out some of the neat projects over there.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Churn Dash Block 7

Good Evening Internet Friends!

So, after a long day at work, sitting in traffic, making dinner, getting the garbage and recycling out to the curb and going for a 40 minute bike ride, I managed to churn (ha ha ha ha) out another Churn Dash Block!

Meet Block 7, of the 16 I am supposed to have this week:

TAH DAH!

Now it's off to bed so I can be rested for another day of work tomorrow!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Churn Dash Block 6

Good Evening Internet Friends!

This evening after dinner and after getting my son to bed I put together Block 6 of my Churn Dash Challenge being hosted by A Needle Pulling Thread Quilt Shop:

 Block 6

All 6 blocks so far.

This week is week 16 of the challenge so maybe I should pick up the pace a little????

Hope this inspire syour own creativity...

Kathy

I'm Going to Regret this tomorrow.....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

My son and I had a (?)leisurely day at home.  After a morning of breakfast, cartoons, and then lunch we decided it was finally warm enough to go for a bike ride.

First I had to figure out how to fill the tire, which I did!!!!  Yay me!

After a few blocks around the neighborhood my son seemed to be riding well enough so we headed out to the trails in Capilano Park:

 Crossing the North Saskatchewan River.  Still lots of ice blocks along the edges.

 Through the trees look at the North Saskatchewan River.

Yet another hill to climb!

It was quite a trek, but even I was shocked to find out when we got home according the map app that we had travelled 16 kilometers (10 miles ).  I know that I am going to be very sore tomorrow as my legs already hurt walking the stairs..... ♫ ♫

Then it was time for dinner and I decided to cook the carrot that I found at Save-On Foods (trust me the name is not very accurate):

That carrot is positioned next to my Henckel's Chef's Knife!  The cost of this carrot was $0.82.  I might have to get another one this week, although there are left overs from tonight's dinner ☺

After dinner I did manage to get the side sewn onto my April 2014 Block of the Month:

Feeling rather accomplished at this moment, and debating if I should start eating pain medication now....

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy 

It's the Weekend!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Today was a busy day despite being the weekend and supposedly time for rest and relaxation.

My son and I stopped at B & A Bakery to get cream horns (they were out), but they did have cheese buns that we had for lunch en route to get hair cuts.  

After getting hair cuts we went to Costco for groceries.

A quick stop at home for dinner and then off to see Home.  It was a really neat movie.  Since then I have been referred to as "the my mom" (from the movie).

After my son went to sleep I finished the center part of my April 2014 Prairie Rose quilt that I participated in from Prairie Points Quilt Shop:

Maybe tomorrow I can get the borders added to this and then I will have four of the nine blocks completed!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Friday Feature Card!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Today was the last day of work for one of my NP colleagues who is moving on to a new and exciting job opportunity.  She will be missed by all of us, not just me.

We went out to celebrate her new job with her at Craft (no worries, I still don't drink).  The food was good and the company was great.

Of course in Kathy fashion, I had to make her something for a farewell present (yesterday's scarf) and of course a card:

I used some of my brand new Stampin' Up product and of some of my old:

Old Olive Card Stock

Blackberry Bliss Card Stock

Whisper White Card Stock

Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp set (retired)

Lotus Blossom stamp set (Sale-a-bration 2015)

Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder

She loved it and that was GREAT!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Farewell Scarf...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I finally made the time to put the buttons on my latest Fisherman's Wife Cowl.  One of my NP colleagues is leaving for a new job (sad face for me).  She has always commented and hinted at my knitting that she needed to have "some", so I made her:

I used Starlight Thick & Quick yarn for this project.  Sadly the gold thread does not show up well against flash photography late at night.  It is really pretty though..

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Camp Socks Done!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I just realized this evening that I had forgot to post the picture of my latest work of sock!  These are the socks that my husband decided he needed to have a pair of for working in camp since my brother had a pair:

TAH DAH!

These are knit with the River City Yarns Hat Trick yarn in the Vancouver color way.

My husband says they are a perfect fit (of course) and quite the conversation starter .....

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

April's block of the Month

Good Evening Internet Friends!

This evening after dinner I spent a bit of time in my craft room and got the center part of my Block of the Month for April done.  YAY me!  Oh, I should probably clarify that this is my April Block of the Month for the year 2014!  ☺

I had signed up to do the Prairie Rose Block of the Month through my sort of local quilt shop; Prairie Points Quilt Shop last year and although I have all nine months of the blocks, I have just started on block 4 this evening:

Here's hoping I can get this block completed sometime this week!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Waffle Sunday

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Since today is Ukrainian Easter FOR SURE we had to have a special breakfast this morning which as it is Sunday meant Waffles:

 Bonus to this is that I now have 4 left over waffles which my son will gladly have for lunches this week!

After lunch we went out to the toy store and the book store for a bit.  Came home with a couple of little toy things that were "must" have options for a 10 year old boy, including a bug habitat pail thingy.....

After dinner I made a baby card to go along with the quilt for my physician colleague tomorrow:

Apparently I do not own that many baby stamps!  Not sure if I should get some more or just use what I have.  Considering what I had I think this turned out rather good! ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

A Non-Productive Day????

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Well, I had big plans for today, okay well not really, but probably bigger than what I did accomplish.

After breakfast I took a nap with kiddo (he got up way too early after going to bed late last night).  Had left overs for lunch and spent the afternoon watching various episodes of sitcoms and educational shows on television.

Whilst doing that I did do some knitting and finished putting the binding on the baby quilt I made for one of my physician colleagues.  I had the quilt sent out to a new friend for long arming so that I could get the quilt done on time because as usual I started this project later than I should have.  Here is the completed quilt:

 A close up of the bunny print:

 A view of the backing:

Dinner was left over turkey transformed into a casserole:

Now off to watch a movie with my son.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

It's Friday!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

It is FINALLY Friday.  This seemed like a really long week somehow.

My Stampin' Up order arrived this week meaning that I finally had glue runner so I completed the card project that I started last week:

Somehow I realize that I even managed to use all Stampin' Up product in these two cards!  That is kind of amazing for me ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

COMPLETE!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Over the past couple of evening I have actually managed to get caught up on my Prairie Quilt Militia Block of the Month for February (no, not a typo....).  These are the last four blocks of the twenty that I was required to make:

TAH DAH!!!!

Of course as usually I have at least a half a dozen things on the go, but none far enough along to show yet.  Maybe tomorrow.....?

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Carrying On....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Today was back to work and school for us.  After 10 days off it was quite the ordeal getting up and getting school uniforms, lunches and homework all packed up and out the door!

This evening I worked a bit more on my Prairie Quilt Militia block of the month.  I am still on February's project and glad for it because of course the March step had mistakes in it (surprise?).  I will complete this quilt eventually, but if everyone else finds the mistakes and the instructions are re-written then maybe I won't find it so overwhelming to have to go back and fix mistakes.

Here are blocks 15 & 16 of the 20 I am supposed to make:

My intention is to finish the remaining four blocks sometime this week....

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Happy Easter!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter and ate way tooooo much chocolate.

Speaking of chocolate; that is my craft for today!

This weekend my son and I set about making these:

I used the Lindt Chocolate Easter Nests recipe for these.  I did not have any chocolate that was not meant for Easter available though so I used Lindt Couverture chocolate I had and just tempered it before use.

Since it was late at night when we were making these I though that the addition of the chicken and the bunny to this photo would generate several laughs, questions and or comments, which so far it has!  ☺

Today was one of those long days in the kitchen.  I had the turkey in the oven to roast by 0830 hours.

I made Sprinkle Pancakes for breakfast after the Easter Egg Quest around the house:

Mid morning between lunch preparations my son and I made a brownie for dessert using some egg shaped marshmallows we had found while on vacation (my son took out and ate all of the green ones in case they were lime ; ) :

Lunch was great and we had a great visit with my 89 year old Granny.  It's always fun to see how her and my son interact ☺

Now I think I will spend the rest of my day doing some crafty things as tomorrow is a busy day getting ready for the week ahead.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

What's for Lunch???

Good Afternoon Internet Friends!

Somewhere earlier this week I got the hair brained idea (my curls must have been a little too tight or something) to invite the family for Easter Dinner.  Well, everyone accepted, but apparently my 89 year old grandmother does not do well with long days so the plan is for Easter Dinner to become Easter Lunch ☺

Today I have begun some of the preparations for this meal at which time my son want's to know "what's for lunch"?  Well, macaroni and cheese was the answer:

It was delicious and will provide a few frozen school lunches for next week as well ☺

Here's the Kathy way to make Macaroni and Cheese:

2 cups cooked macaroni or tube pasta

Pour cooked pasta into lightly buttered baking dish

Add 2 handfuls of SqueaK'rs (I buy the BIG bag at Costco) and mix with the pasta

Whisk: 

1 egg in a medium bowl, add 1/2 tsp black pepper, and add 2 cups milk, then pour over pasta mixture

Grate cheddar cheese (how ever much you want) over the top of the casserole before placing in a pre-heated 350 Fahrenheit oven.  

Bake for 30 minutes.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Good Friday

Good Evening Internet Friends.

I hope that everyone had a Good Friday.  Today of course was a stay at home day since it is a holiday.  

Yesterday my son and I went to Crock a Doodle and while en route there we went through a blowing snow across the highway kind of storm and then had hail on the way home!  I went to yoga yesterday evening and when I was leaving this was the parking lot:

More SNOW!!!!

My craft for today is actually a card that I made for my student RN.  Last Friday was her last day with me as she moves on to her final practicum.  It was a pleasure to have her and so along with a scarf I knit for her as well I made a quick card from one of the Paper Pumpkin kits that I have sitting in my craft room:

Part of my plan over Spring Break was to get caught up on some of these kits.  However, I found out yesterday that I am all out of glue runner!!!!

  Not sure how that happened, but since I recently had to place my end of quarter Stampin' Up order which included lots of glue runner to keep my hobby demo status current, I will have to wait on completing these projects because I refuse to buy glue!

After lunch my son and I went to the local park to play.  We did not stay as long as planned as it was  still cold out there.

When we got back home we baked a batch of Cheddar biscuits to go along with dinner which of course is fish on Friday:

I poached the salmon and then topped it with my all new favorite product; Pineapple & Habanero Sauce.

I seriously LOVE this stuff and have been putting it on, and in everything this week.

Since it is Good Friday I will close this post with my all time favorite version of  the Old Rugged Cross.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

  

Road Trip Knitting

On the drive down to Helena the other day I finished the first of my husband's socks.  I did not really want to graft the toe shut at 75 miles an hour (yes, that is the speed limit there) in the mountains in the F-350 (it corners like a tank - I think).

So, I started work on a project that I have been meaning to make for a while and since the yarn and the needles are big, I knew I would be safe with this project:

This is another Fisherman's Wife Cowl that I am making for one of my NP colleagues.

I am knitting this cowl in Thick & Quick Starlight color with gold metallic wrap.  It looks really pretty close up.

I managed to get more this more than half completed on the trip between Great Falls and Helena.

Picked up the buttons for it today while I was out getting groceries.  Somewhere in the past 24 hours I have decided to host the family for Easter Dinner, so a trip to Costco was necessary today.  Tomorrow will be another stay and home day, although I should probably start some of the dinner preparations and do some house cleaning......

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

April Fool's????

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I awoke this morning to my April Fool's joke:

Seriously??????  I thought that we were done with snow til the May long weekend!

On our travels over the past few days I worked on a pair of socks for my husband.  I am making these in the Vancouver colorway of the River City Yarns Hat Trick yarns.  I started the second sock Monday evening in Helena and while on the ride home managed to get this far:

TAH DAH!

If I keep can on focus hopefully I will have these done in time for next week!  

Since it Wednesday I decided that I should check in with my friends over at The Needle and Thread Network for Work in Progress Wednesday.  Take the time to check out some of the projects and the puppy over there ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy