End of Summer Gardening

I did some work in my yard a few days ago. I pulled weeds - a job I hate, by the way, and cut back my dayliles - some of them - some are still blooming! Thought I'd share some pictures of a few things before they're all gone for winter.

This is my Ginger Lily plant finally blooming. I got a small cutting last year at a church garden club sale. It kept growing and getting taller but with no flowers. Someone told me a few weeks ago that it could take 7 years for it to bloom!! Finally last week we saw blooms, but it seems as soon as a bloom appears, it dies the next day. Don't know if that is typical or not, but it sure smells great!!

This is my chrysantheum - a little early I thought. It was so heavy that it split in the center and was laying on the ground. I had to tie it up with some twine. Hoping now, it will start growing upright!!

These are my favorite - probably because they are so easy to grow! I have had them in my garden in Texas, Washington and now NC. I also have them in pots too, When winter comes, I did up a little bit of it and bring it in the house - just in case!! This is a shamrock plant. I also have green ones.

And the ever popular, monkey grass! I just think it is pretty when it is blooming.

That's a Fact, Jack!

Did you know .....

• Clouds are made of water droplets condensed around particles of smoke, dust, ash, and salt.
• Antarctica is the only continent with no owls. [It also has the highest number of degree heating days of any continents, but the penguins aren't complaining. ]
• At 840,000 square miles, Greenland is the world's largest island. It is three times the size of Texas. [Alaska has 663,267 square miles, and is much closer to the size of Greenland than Texas is. Also, if Australia, an island continent, were consider merely an island, it would pass up Greenland because its area at 2,967,910 square miles is 3 and half times as large as Greenland. Antarctica, another island continent would pass them both up with its 5.4 million square miles, 6.4 times larger than Greenland. -Al]
• 25% of all the vegetables consumed in the United States are French fries.
• Twinkies are 68% air and 32% Twinkie stuff, which means you can pack three Twinkies in the same space taken up by only one.

~That's a Fact Jack by Harry Bright and Jakob Anser

Healthy Chicken for a Healthy YOU

Below you will find some helpful tips to help you prepare the healthiest chicken for you and your family.

• Make sure you trim all the excess fat from the chicken before cooking.
• To enhance the chicken's flavor try using flavoring ingredients such as flavored wines, vinegars, spices, herbs or citrus fruit instead of fat such as butter and oil.
• Bake, roast, broil, grill or poach chicken to avoid using added fats. You can also stir-fry in olive or canola oil but it is better to use a fat-free nonstick cooking spray.
• Chicken Breast, skinless, 3 ounces [140 Cal, 3g Fat, 26g Protein] *3
• Chicken Breast, with skin, 3 ounces [167 Cal, 7g Fat, 25g Protein] *4
• Chicken Drumstick, skinless, 3 ounces [146 Cal, 5g Fat, 24g Protein] *3.5
• Chicken Drumstick, with skin, 3 ounces [184 Cal, 9.5g Fat, 23g Protein] *4.5

It is a fact, that leaving the skin on during cooking will produce juicier meat. But, at the same time, some of that fat that was under the skin will have absorbed into the meat, which is why it is juicier.

~The Diet Detective's Calorie Bargain Bible

Birthday Cards

I've been busy today trying to catch up on some birthday cards - 2 of them are belated! I'm so embarrassed that I missed my nephew's 2nd birthday yesterday. When my sister died last year, I made a vow to myself to try my best to be there for my niece and her boys and my nephew. Unfortunately, we are many miles apart (Texas and NC) so I do the best I can with telephone calls and cards. I slipped up this time though! Luckily, Zac just turned 2 so he won't really know the difference that his card and present are late! I had fun making this card. Don't know if he is into Sesame Street, but I do remember my kids at that age most definitely were!!

This next card is also a belated one. My sister's best friend, Sharon's, birthday was Friday and I missed it. She lives in Florida and comes to visit us often here in NC. She will be here this Thanksgiving and we gals will be having a "stampin' good time" when she comes!! This card uses my daughter's stamp set, Cheers to You. It's a really cute set from the new catalog. I used my Copics to color the "beer" and my Nesties for the circles. I used Crystal Effects for the glass and Liquid Applique for the foam.

This next card is probably my favorite. I really like how it turned out! Remember a few weeks ago, my 2 college girlfriends came to visit? Well, Brenda is the first one of us to turn ..... 60!! Her birthday is Wednesday. (mine is October and Jackie's is December) I hope she will not be offended by this card - I don't think she will. I just love this set that I got from Little Paper Shop. They have some cute sets - if you are a grandmom, check out their grandparents stamps! Again, I used my Oval Nesties and my new "Martha" lace punch. The paper is from Crate Paper that I got at the CK Convention LAST year and hadn't even opened it! The ribbon matched it great & I got it last week at Michael's in their $1 bin!

Hope you enjoy these creations!

Snow Swirled Tree

This is a borrowed stamp set. It is my daughter's but since I usually put her stamp sets together for her, she lets me use them before delivery! I will be seeing her (hopefully) at the end of next week and I still have one of her sets to use yet!!

This set is on sale right now so it is a good buy. The set is called Snow Swirled. I stamped the swirled tree twice - once in Handsome Hunter and once in Riding Hood Red. Then, I cut one of them in half and glued them together. The snowflakes are stamped with Craft White and embossed. It's hard to see it, but the tree is also a little sparkly. Is used my glue pen and went around the swirls and glittered it.

This will probably be mailed to my Monday Mailer tomorrow.

Big Mac & Fries .... not on my Weight Watchers!

I've been fighting the Battle of the Bulge for several years now. I'm a lifetime member of Weight Watchers - from way back - just keep gaining and losing the same pounds, I think! Although in the last several years, more pounds kept creeping up and I did more gaining than losing. Finally, about a year ago, I got tired of my clothes being too tight, getting out of breath too easily and just having no energy. So, back to WW I went. I have lost almost 25 pounds and gone from a size 16 to size 12 (and a few things in size 10). I just can't seem to get rid of the last 4-5 pounds. But in reality, I have not tried so hard in the past few months. I plan to get back on track and my goal is to reach my weight goal by my BIG birthday at the end of October!! Now, I've said it to the public .... I've gotta do it! If you have any suggestions or great recipes, send them to me. I'm a "quick and e-z" type of gal.

Not that I stop at McDonald's much (if I did, I'm afraid I'd order FRIES and a Big Mac!) but if you're out and about and do want to have a quick bite, here's a WW point count for McDonald's that you may find helpful. Hungry Girl's site has some good tips and I subscribe to it and get a lot of tips from her. Check it out -

http://www.hungry-girl.com/week/weeklydetails.php?isid=1536

Cards from my Secret Sister & Monday Mailer

I have 3 cards to share. The first one is from my Monday Mailer program. Jana sent me a card today using Inspired by Nature (my favorite set!!). It looks like she misted her stamp after inking it up and then clear embossed the flowers. Very pretty!

The next 2 cards are from my Secret Sister. The orange one is monochromatic using the new Tangerine Tango and she made a flower using the Scallop Punch! Clever!

The second one is a Christmas card using Heard from the Heart and the Bella Designer Paper. I love the way she used 2 ribbons - white & red gingham!

Guest Stamper Today

 

I have a guest stamper today!  My daughter, Ashley, is very creative.  She made this card for Torri - her brother's oldest step-daughter.  She used a retired SU stamp set "Just In Style" and definately, bold bright colors.   Isn't it darling?  Great job, Ashley!! 

My Monday Mailer

Today kicks off a new round of Monday Mailers for my NC Demos group.  Since I am in charge of this group now, I thought long and hard about this month's theme.  I decided to make it fairly easy on us .... cards can be anything new in the new catalog.  It can be a stamp set, designer paper, punches, "in" colors, etc. 

I mailed my card today, so I will go ahead and share it with you.  I used the stamp set, Crazy for Cupcakes.  The paper is Tangerine Tango with Hawaii Papaya designer paper.  It's pretty bright but I like it.  I'm a bright colors kind of gal!!

Sharon

Birthday Bookmark

Saturday is my step-granddaughter's birthday.  She is a voracious reader so I am sending her a gift certificate from Amazon so she can buy what she wants.  But, I also made her a bookmark for her books.  She will be 14 - you know ... 14 going on 20!!!  So, I didn't want to make it too childish but "hip" enough that she would use it!! 

I used some patterned paper that I had on hand (from Stampers Alley).  The flower is from Time Well Spent - an old SU hostess set.  Her name is Torri (therefore, the "t"!!)  I think it turned out pretty cute.

If you want directions, let me know.  It's pretty easy.

Sharon