As promised .... pictures of Old Salem!

Told you I'd be back!! 

Here are a few pictures from Old Salem.

This one is of the ovens in the bakery and the Sugar Cake that is ready to go in the oven.  That Sugar Cake is to die for!!   We ended up buying 2 the first day and 1 the second day! 

The bakers are working on the fresh bread.  This is Raisin Bread which they are putting a whipped confectionate topping on each loaf!   We bought a loaf of this and it is delicious for breakfast!

These are old Hobby Horses that are in the Toy Museum.

Sonny & Ashley standing under The Mickey Coffee Pot.  It was build in 1858 and used to stand outside a tin shop in Old Salem.

Missing in Action

Sorry I've been MIA (Missing In Action) but I've been ubber-busy this week!!  We drove to Chapel Hill on Monday & met Ashley and friends for lunch.  Then traveled to Raleigh to go to Archivers.  It was a nice store but not as great as I had imagined it to be from all I'd heard.  I actually only bought a couple of things - and mostly for my sister!!  Tuesday and Wednesday were spent in Winston Salem at Old Salem Village (a Moravian village).  It was really neat.  I'll share a few pictures when I get them downloaded.  On Tuesday, the demonstrations were all from the 18th century and on Wednesday, from the 19th century.  Tuesday was a beautiful day but Wednesday was cold and rainy all day ... bummer.  Thursday, Ashley and I had a little time to play in my stamp room.  She is trying to get a couple of scrapbooks done for friends who are expecting little boys.  We met Sonny for lunch; then headed up to Hickory to the furniture mart to look for furniture for her new house.  Then, back to Mooresville for the Stamp of the Month class at Stampers Alley.  As soon as we finished that, we met Sonny, Marianne and her son, Harrison to watch the Panther game (boo ... they lost).  Friday it was on to the Southern Living Christmas Show in Charlotte ... after eating a great lunch in downtown Charlotte at Mertz Heart and Soul (yummy fried chicken and southern style veggies!)  Today, we are picking up my Mom and getting a pedicure, going for wine tasting and having lunch in Mooresville!

Whew!  I'll need a vacation soon!  But, I promise to post some great cards later this afternoon!

Northwood Cards for Christmas

Here are a couple of more Christmas cards I have made.  This first one uses the SU embossing folder, Petals A Plenty.  The stamp set is from Northwoods.  I will be teaching a Northwoods class at my LSS in December so I have been playing around with the stamps.  The snowflake is from SU's snowflake punch .... easy peasy!!

This next card is also a Northwoods stamp.  I just love this snowman!!  This time I used SU's Finial Press embossing folder with Bashful Blue, Real Red and Brillant Blue cardstock.  The snowman is watercolored with my SU markers.

Christmas Cards

I have been working on a few Christmas cards.  Aren't they fun to make?  Just wish I had someone who would sit down and address them for me and put a little note inside!  I used to send out a Christmas "newsy" letter letting everyone know what we had been up to during the year, but doesn't seem like there's much to say anymore!  So, that's one thing I can cross off my list!

This first card is made with the Patterned Pines SU set.  I embossed the card ... except for the center oval ... with my Big Shot and Cuttlebug embossing folder.  Then I used the Nestabilities and cut out a thin scallop oval to put around it.  The trees have Stickles on them - hard to see in the scan.

This card I just love the way it came together and it was by accident!  I stamped the Delightful Decorations in gold ink and popped up the red one in the middle.  I punched small holes to thread the cording through.  Then I used Baroque Motifs to do the scrolls at the top.  I stamped in red first; then, using my Stamp-a-ma-jig, I overstamped in gold off-setting it just a tad.  The red scallop border is also popped up.

This is another card using the Delightful Decorations stamp.  With the Ornament Punch, they are so easy to punch out!  I embossed 2 of the ornaments and popped up the middle one. The ribbon is from the mini catalog (Sleigh Bells) and the DSP is Holiday Lounge.

Old Salem trip

Well, things didn't work out so good for my Steelers today.  Ben just wasn't on his game.  But at least the Panthers won today.

I'm headed to Chapel Hill / Raleigh tomorrow.  Ashley is taking her college boards tomorrow in Chapel Hill and then is taking a 2 week leave to spend Thanksgiving with us.  We are driving down tomorrow and will spend the night in Chapel Hill.  I hope to go to Archivers in Raleigh tomorrow.  I have heard so much about that store and want to check it out for myself!!  Tuesday we're headed to Winston Salem for a couple of days.  We are going to Old Salem.  I have never been before but I love those Moravian cookies!  Hope to do some Christmas shopping while there. 

So, if you don't hear from me for a couple of days, that is why. 

Steelers vs Cincy today

I'll be headed to Big Al's in Mooresville shortly in all my Pittsburgh gear!  Big Al's is the local watering hole that calls itself a Steeler bar.  That's still debatable in my opinion, but there's usually a good crowd there watching THE game.  Today is a big one against Cincinnati.  We are tied with them in the division with a record of 6 wins / 2 losses.  The Steelers have won five games in a row, the second longest winning streak in the league, and have not lost at home since Nov. 9, 2008, against the Indianapolis Colts, a span of 10 games, including playoffs. The Bengals ended an eight-game losing streak to the Steelers in their stadium with a 23-20 victory on Sept. 27, the first time our coach (Mike Tomlin) has lost to the Bengals. The Bengals are 3-0 on the road and 4-0 in the AFC North this season.

We've got to stop their quarterback, Carson Palmer!!  Hopefully, I'll be singing my song a lot today -

"Here we go Steelers, here we go!"

Monday Mailer/ Thanksgiving Cards to Share

I have a few cards to share that I have either made in the NC Monday Mailer program.  October's theme was using the Big Shot or Cuttlebug and November's theme is Winter Holiday cards.

This is the last October Monday Mailer that I sent.  I don't think I have shared it with you.  If so, you get to see it again!!

I used Dusty Durango cardstock and ribbon with DSP from the Mini Catalog (Autumn Meadows).  The stamp is from the Hostess set, The More the Merrier.  The turquoise is half of a Big Shot Top Note die.

This one is one of my favorites!  It is my November Monday Mailer using the single stamp "Gobble Gobble"  I love that you can just buy single stamps!  This one is found in the Holiday Mini Catalog on page 31, but also check out the single stamps in the big catalog on page 208.  I again used the DSP from the Mini Catalog - this paper is just perfect for fall!  I stamped Mr Turkey several times in Chocolate Chip, More Mustard and Dusty Durango and popped him up (see detailed picture below).

Today's Class

I taught another class today at my local stamp store.  It was another box and set of 4 cards.  I got the directions from Andrea Walford (you can find her blog in my sidebar).  Here is a picture of the project that we made using various stamps and papers sold at my LSS.

Here is the project that I made using Stampin' Up paper and the Fifth Avenue stamp set:

She got the house!

Yay!!  Our daughter is moving forward with the house of her choice!  Several of you have asked about her and I didn't want to post anything until we knew for sure.  She made an offer on a house in San Antonio a little over a week ago and for a week they played the bidding game.  Her realtor was worried that the house would not appraise out at the price they agreed upon.  But, the inspection and appraisal were both done on Monday.  The inspector sent her the report on Tuesday and there are only a few items that need taken care of - the largest one being loose shingles on the roof.  The appraisal came in last night and it appraised out at close to the agreed upon price.  Ashley's realtor sure knows what she is doing because the asking price started out $35,000 more than the agreed upon price.  Yes, it was definitely over-priced to begin with.  It is an older house - build in 1950 but has been updated with about 2200 sq. feet with 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms and a pool!  Guess she'll be hiring a pool boy!  She is scheduled to close November 30 but will rent it back to the girl who lives there now for a week.  Ashley plans on moving in December 7 and being there for Christmas!  We can't wait to see her new house and spend Christmas with her in her first house.

Veterans Day

It is not lost on me that the memorial for the Fort Hood dead in the worst attack in US history on a military base came just one day prior to Veterans Day. An act of war in the fight for our civilization.

What can be said to these unsung heroes who put their lives on the line every day for the idea, the principle, the morality that is America? 

I stand in awe, deeply grateful. And while my words are inadequate, the men and women of the armed forces who serve (and served) this great nation are always in the minds and hearts of patriotic Americans who love this country.

THANK YOU!