New Incentive for weight loss

Girl Time

What a fun day today with friends, we met at Starbucks for some much needed coffee and girl talk, then made the rounds to all the craft stores, Joannes, Michales and Hobby Lobby then met up for a movie at Sunset Station. The movie was "We Bought A Zoo", it was a cute family film with great music. This song in particular I loved, I have it by Judy Collins but his version was so good I just had to share. Thanks Jerry and Stephanie for a really fun day!

Merry Christmas

Creative Christmas

The 2011 Bead Metaler Christmas exchange was one creative Christmas! Every year I have a Christmas party for all my regular students who take classes during the year. Faces change every year as we welcome in the new students to join the fun. It starts in the summer when when put all the names in a hat that gives us up to 6 months to make our gifts ....oh by the way that is about our only rule we have the gifts all must be hand made. Lots of friends, lots of food and lots and lots of fun. Thanks to all of you who support and participate with me all through the year. Merry Christmas to each and every one of you.
Special thanks to Jackie and Ronna for taking all these great photos and more ...sorry I couldn't post them all but you get the idea.

Me and Ronna ...Bad Boys Bad Boys! 

Ellen, Me, Jerry & Sandy

OMG soooo much great food- thanks everyone for helping!

June and Jackie

June and Winston

Susan, Ronna and Winston

Sandy, Annette, June, Pat & Susan

A Country Christmas

Tonight I was invited to a Christmas dinner/party that was hosted by Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins. The theme for the party was a"Country Christmas" The band was The Tony Marques Band, great band for a fun country party. If you get a chance this week you can catch them down on the strip playing in Harrah's at the Tobey Keith bar.
Good friends, good food and great music....what else is there?

Las Vegas Rodeo Days & Girls Night Out

House Seats definitely came through for us once again when I snagged tickets to see Dwight Yoakam at the Hilton Tuesday night. While my sister was in town we checked the computer every day for something to come up for us to go see and nothing. Of course the same day she leaves Las Vegas Dwight pops up.
The show was great, it was my first time seeing him in concert and I must say ....he is hot and puts on one hell of a show. Great night out with the girls! ....and Charlie! thanks Charlie for driving us and keeping us all in line and off the table tops.

Boulder Blues

Yesterday my sister and her husband arrived for a visit, my brother in law is a huge blues fan & I had promised him that we would go to Boulder Blues. Did you know every Thursday night at Boulder Station in the Railhead is blues night? well it is and were treated to a great show with Guitar Shorty. He has been around along time and was fantastic on the guitar. Great night of blues music and even better people watching ...I'm telling ya Blues fans drink their own kind of cool aid.

Y

Is it over already?

Well the visit with our son Ben and his girlfriend came to a end ...on a high note I must say, we had a great time and I think Ben and Julie did too. They went kayaking, they went to the shooting range, we all went to Lake Meade one night for a class under the stars about the stars and all I can say is ...Ranger Laura will be remembered. The last night they were here we took them to see a show, not much was going on so we ended up with "Confessions of a Rock Star" with Rick Dinizio the lead singer in a band from the 80's call the Smithereens. The music was good, the show was not so good until Julie ..... yes shy little Julie,
they asked for a volunteer to play the cow bell and before we could blink she jump up on her chain and on to that stage ....she was so cute and really ....it made the show bearable. Great time with them and now that they are living in San Francisco we hope to see more of them.

Happy Thanksgiving

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

I'm Thankful there are no dishes to wash this year

This year our son and his girlfriend came to spend Thanksgiving with us and we decided instead of spending half of the visit in the kitchen we would go to Sam's Town for Thanksgiving dinner, it was perfect!

Thanks Ben and Julie for sharing this holdiay with us.

In Memory of Patty

Today is the one year anniversary that we lost our dear friend Patty to cancer, she was the funniest, the happiest and one of the kindest people I have ever known.
 We miss you so much Patty

"Look with your special eyes" I have the nicest friends

It happens every single year ....yup I had another birthday, I celebrated my birthday in Portland Oregon with my sister and her husband. Now I am back and some of my friends really went all out for me.
One on the nicest gifts I got was from my friend Colleen Myler, she just had major back surgery and should have been taking care of herself and resting but instead she brought me a great home cooked meal of chicken tortilla, soup and salad with the best Cesar salad dressing that I ever had and she threw in a few frozen margarita's and 2 cute margarita glasses to finish off the meal. And if that wasn't enough (and it was) she bought me my favorite lipstick ....thank you Missy you went way overboard.

Anyone who really knows me understands my love of baking cupcakes and Ronna found me this beautiful cupcake mug ..too pretty to use for drinking...check out the bling on this beauty..Thanks Ronna I will find a special place for this and every time I look at it I will think of you.

Ja

Jackie is so sneaky! She knew that I had been bidding on this Brighton Bracelet for days and couldn't seem to win- This is last years Power Of
Pink bracelet, Every year Brighton comes out with a new bracelet to bring awareness to breast cancer and they sell out really quick and once they are gone...they are gone. I loved this bracelet so much and really really wanted one and thanks to Jackie ...I have mine. I love everything about this bracelet...thanks a million Jackie.

Jerry and June ...all I can say is "you girls out did yourselves" How cool is this mosaic patio side table? Jerry and June got really creative when they made me this table, the work is just exquisite and the pansies are perfect for me...I love it, love it , love it.
I can't imagine how long this must have taken you two....and I wished I had a video camera of the process I am sure there were lots and lots of laughs as you worked together. Can you say Lucy and Ethel?

You can't even know how surprised I was to open this beautiful apron that I received from Tanya.... this girl can sew and pick the most perfect fabrics. This picture just doesn't do it justice but the apron is reversible one side is a  Rodeo print and the other is really pretty print with all cowboy hats....Perfect for me since my sister and I are trying to start a business called "The Irish Cowgirls". So I opened up my apron and inside the pocket was a cute little business card holder ...do you see it?? it's the little pouch shown on top of the apron with the cowboy hats.
So just when I think I couldn't be more spoiled Tana tells me there is more....she made a matching apron for my sister ...whaaaa??? that's just too sweet! Thanks Tanya you are so creative and very very thoughtful.

Some months ago I told my sister that I needed a cute functional bag to take to the gym, I told her I needed a place for my gym pass, a place for my IPhone and IPod and a place for my car keys and glasses and that it had to be cute. Check out this really cute bag she made. She hand stamped on the front the guitar and the skull and wings and check out the bling. On the back of the bag there is a small pocket for my gym pass and on that pocket she stamped "backstage pass" and on the side pocket there is a stamped guitar pick. I love this little bag I used it for the first time this week and it was perfect. Thanks Dennie for the perfect gym bag and for being the best sister and friend a person could have...I love U.

Life is Good ....Gotta Love it

Life IS a Cabaret!

Arrived home from my Portland vacation with a pretty bad cold that kept me in bed ...yes me in bed for 3 days. By Thursday I am starting to feel a bit better and by Friday when Liza Minnelli tickets came up on House Seats, well I was not going to let that pass me by - snatched up the tickets and off I went with one of my  Posse number 2 members to see the legendary Liza Minnelli ...that's Liza with a "Z". This was one of the greatest shows I have seen with House Seats, even if you were never a Liza fan (which I was) you couldn't help but love her. She walked on that stage with such confidence and greatness and just commanded that stage. She was so "cute", and so gracious and very very real. Although her voice just didn't reach range she once could she made up for it in so many ways. Sometime you go see a concert and sometime you go see a singer but Friday night I saw a Legend ...a performer, a truly great entertainer.

Day 2-4 of Portland

Day 2 of my vacation trip my sister said she was feeling like she might be coming down with a cold with a little scratchy throat ....no big deal so off we went with her husband to the Rock and Gem show that was in town in search for that perfect treasure....no treasures to be found at this rock show so we had lunch at the local health food store called New Seasons and then decided we should head home for my sister to get some rest so we could be up and ready early in the morning to go to a Jazzercise class to get in some much needed cardio.

Day 3

The next morning I was up and ready to go for the class but Dennie was not up to it so she decided to stay home while her husband dropped me off for the class. I had only gone to a Jazzercise class once before years ago, this was a really good class with lots of cardio and strength training, I was dripping wet when they came to pick me up after class was over.

Dennie had some time to take some medication and was feeling a bit better so we ran home long enough for me to take a quick shower, drop Steve at home then we were off to the Saturday Market. Portland's Saturday market is really just a swap meet lost from the 60's tie dye everything and lots of good people watching with a local band playing music.

Day 4 - Sept 25th ...My Birthday and rain was in the forecast for today!

How dare mother nature play with me that way....3 beautiful days then my birthday rolls around and rain??? With the rain upon us and Dennie still not feeling great we decided to stay in for the day, plus our instructor from Art and Soul was stopping by to pick up all her supplies that she has shipped to the house since she lives in Baltimore and couldn't travel with it all. Barbra and her husband came by around 10:00 and we spent about an hour getting to know them ...both were very nice and we now we are so excited for the class on Tuesday we are besides ourselves. At 5 0'clock we got ready to go out for dinner and listen to some blues music ,we were to met my great niece and her boyfriend at a restaurant called the Refractory, we didn't stay too long since Dennie wasn't feeling good at all and we want to make sure she is feeling better to go to our class on Tuesday.

Portland Here I come

I guess this is what helps to keep Portland Weird

My trip to Portland is finally here and how much fun was it to have my friends Ardith and Sally travel with me? My trip was all about visiting my family and going to Art and Soul of course. Ardith and Sally were just flying up for the day to have dinner with a dear friend of Sally's.
Ardith had heard about a Portland local donut joint that apparently she saw on the Food Network and it was one of the things she wanted to see while she was in Portland.  So we arrive at the airport with my sister waiting to pick us up and take us to do the Voodoo Doughnut experience. Ardith and my sister got the famous Bacon and Maple bar donut that makes this place so famous that everyone raves about and Sally and I went the safe route and got the old standard buttermilk and old fashion doughnuts .... can you say yummy?

Now that we were sufficiently hyped up on sugar we were off to the Osmi Museum, I have been wanting to see the IMAX movie "Tornado Alley" for the longest time and it just so happened that it was playing in Portland - the movie was good but not great, Greg and I watch the TV show Storm Chasers, the film maker that made the movie was part of that show. After the show we dropped Ardith and Sally off in the downtown area so they could have a few hours to explore Portland before their dinner and flight home that night. Thanks ladies for a fun day together!

Tuacahn Trip

Every year Greg and I take a trip to St. George Utah to go to the Tuacahn Amphitheather to see a play, spend the night and then bike ride in the morning.
This year the play we saw was Grease; who doesn't love the music from Grease? The play was really fun, with lots of dancing and good music. What made it more special is that my friend Winston was actually a dancer in the movie with John Travolta, as a matter of fact she used to have a dance studio and John would take classes from Winston...how great is that?
Well the show was really fun but we had to  fore go the bike ride this year because my back went out a week ago and I am still really sore. If you haven't ever been to St. George you are missing out, it's such a cute little town and just 7 miles out of town is Tuacahn, you can take in a play.

Not your mamma's pressure cooker

Okay so you know I love the kitchen gadgets and that will probably never change so deal with it! Remember the old pressure cookers that we used to have because our mother's had them? the scary ones that rattled on the stove top and you just watched and waited for it to blow up? The food always did taste better in pressure cookers and you can't beat the efficiency of them. Well there's a new toy in town and it is the new and improved electric pressure cooker. I bought this Wolfgang Puck pressure cooker a few weeks ago and have cooker a few things in it now and really love it. The other day I cooked artichokes in 15 min. and they were fantastic! Before that I tried the recipe that lured me into buying this in the first place. I took a frozen ...I mean frozen package of ground turkey out of the freezer and added organic pasta sauce, organic chicken broth and a box of dry uncooked pasta and threw it in the pressure cooker, closed the lid, pressed the button that says meat and 20 min. later I had a yummy, healthy meal...wow now that's my idea of cooking. Just think of a slow cooker but in reverse, love it - gotta get yourself one, it will save you time and calories.

Sinfully Funny- turn off the music player on the right

Wednesday afternoon I went to see Nunsense with Ardith, Tanya and Winston at the Hilton. The show was pretty funny. This clip  is the first thing you see in the play.
Five of the 19 surviving Little Sisters of Hoboken, a one-time missionary order that ran a leper colony on an island south of France, discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, accidentally killed the other fifty-two residents of the convent with her tainted vichyssoise while they were off playing bingo with a group of Maryknolls. Upon discovering the disaster, Mother Superior had a vision in which she was told to start a greeting card company to raise funds for the burials. The greeting cards were an enormous success and, thinking there was plenty of money, the Reverend Mother bought a plasma TV for the convent, leaving her with no money in the kitty to pay for the last four burials. With the deceased nuns on ice in the deep freeze, they decide to stage a variety show in the Mount Saint Helen's School auditorium to raise the necessary amount. Participating in the project are Mother Superior Mary Regina, a former circus performer who can not resist the spotlight; her competitive but dignified rival, second-in-command Sister Mary Hubert; Sister Robert Anne, a streetwise nun from Brooklyn; Sister Mary Leo, a novice who is determined to be the world's first ballerina nun; and wacky, childlike Sister Mary Amnesia, who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head. The show is a hoot you must go see it.

He's here world!

Isn't he the most beautiful baby? My niece is going to be the best mom in the world I think. She is such a wonderful person and has been trying to have a baby for a few years and now has been blessed with a beautiful baby boy. They named him Logan, nice strong masculine name ...just love it.
Congratulations Kyla and Aaron!!! you are going to be great parents

Logan Olah: Born Aug. 29 12:37 pm 8lbs 20" long

Turn the music player off on the right

Last night Posse number 3 (Jerry, June, Winston and myself) went to see a show at the Hilton called Body & Soul staring Rick Faugno.
Rick has been playing the lead roll in The Jersey Boys for the past 3 1/2 years at the Wynn Hotel here in Vegas. He is playing at the Hilton in this one man show on Monday nights until October when he will leave the Jersey Boys to be out on his own full time. The show was really good and this guy can really sing and dance, if you get a chance go see it you will love it.

Bitchen Concert

Okay so last night the East Side posse and the West side posse came together for the 2011 Hippie Fest at the Hilton. We dug out our Peace & Love garb and jewelry and had a great time with good music and good friends. Dave Mason was just the best of the best we could have listened to him all night long.

Thanks girls for such a fun night out!

Hippiefest

Starring Dave Mason ("We Just Disagree," "Feeling Alright"), Rick Derringer ("Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo," "Real American"), Felix Cavaliere's Rascals ("People Got To Be," "It's a Beautiful Morning") and Gary Wright ("Dream Weaver," "Love is Alive"). Another special guest artist will be named at a later date.  Bring your parents, your grandparents and bring your kids!  It's time to break out the bell bottoms and the tie dye t-shirts and get ready to get groovy . be a hippie for a day at Hippiefest

Grow Tomatos As Big As Your Face?

Yesterday morning Greg and I drove to the west side of town to go to see a lady about a tomato...oh wait a minute I meant to say see a lady about growing a tomato. Greg has a veggie garden out in our back yard and grows all sorts of things and for the most part it always goes pretty well. This year one of my new students told us about this lady here in town that is a test gardener....meaning she does all sorts of growing
tests for the local nursery's. She also holds gardening classes in her back yard where you can see all her beautiful veggies growing. I'm not into all that dirt stuff but even I found it pretty interesting.
Here's a little background on her:

If it's hot where you live, our new method combined with our super heat tolerant tomato variety may very well work for you. Because, when it comes to growing tomatoes in high summer heat, , , It's different, , , way, way different." Since 1995 The Sweet Tomato Test Garden has continually tested new seed varieties, methods of growing tomatoes and products in our desert garden, always looking to improve the growing method, tomato quality and size of the harvest for desert gardeners. The combination of growing method and tomato variety I discovered now applies to the tomatoes we grow for our own table, my improved growing method is used for our trial tomato varieties. We assume; if our successful method does not produce lots of big tomatoes in our test beds then it is the fault of the tomato variety being unable to set in our desert heat.

If I can do it, You can do it ! Picked July/Aug in Hot Las Vegas, Nevada Read what others are saying: New Jersey Championship Tomato Weigh-In

Yes, this is not very scientific and we have no microscopes or laboratory. What we do have is a continuous supply of big tomatoes during the summer. So, I leave it to the biologists and horticulturists to work this over. I am just a humble Master Gardener searching for ways all of us can grow lots of big tomatoes in the hot desert. As you travel around our site you will find desert gardening information, articles, a place for your tomato photos and recipes, plus wonderful products that will help you have a better garden in the hot desert. For the real scoop on growing tomatoes in the desert be sure to order our book, "Growing the Tomato in Las Vegas in Terrible Dirt and Desert Heat." It was written after years of research and tells you what we finally found out to insure picking lots of tasty, big tomatoes in the hot desert. If you live in a hot climate other than the desert, my method may very well work for you. Leslie Doyle Oh and one more thing .....her home is on Sheila Street just off Jones ...I had to take this photo, I have a sister named Sheila

Fledge is complete

Well it's that time a year when my eagles have hatched and now taken their first flight (fledge)
These are amazing birds and I learn something new each year I watch and engage in the chat room.
The live web camera will soon be turned off now that the eagles are off and out of the nest until next year when the parents return to lay more eggs and the process starts over again.

Q. How old are the eaglets when they fledge?
A. Nest departure as early as 8 weeks of age has been reported, but 11 to 13 weeks appear to be the most common ages.
The Hornby eaglets have usually fledged at 12 weeks of age. In 2009, the chick fledged at 85 days of age (the exact age reported in Doug’s book).

Q. Do bald eagle siblings fledge at the same time?
A. They fledge a few (or more) days apart, depending on hatching interval and sex.

Q. When they fledge, are the eaglets just pushed out of the nest?
A. No. While some eaglets fledge ‘prematurely’ (have a mishap when over- or underestimating distance to a branch), the majority take their first flights by choice and under their own control.

Q. Is it true that 40% of bald eaglets do not survive their first flight?
A. While this is widely reported on some websites and in some books, more recent studies (and nest cam studies) indicate that this is not the case. (See “survival”, below).

Q. Do bald eagle parents starve out the eaglets to force them to fledge?
A. No; they continue to bring food to the nest.
In 2009, Mom and Dad Hornby delivered 19 fish to the nest the day before their chick fledged.

Q. Do the eaglets try to follow the adult when they leave the nest?
A. Yes; once the eaglet has flown from the nest and landed, the parents will coax it to follow (luring it with food). The eaglets will follow the adults back to the nest and feed there until such time as they begin to feed alongside the parents; at that point, their foraging abilities improve quickly and they become less and less dependent upon their parents.

Q How long will bald eagle parents continue to feed the chicks after they fledge?
A. Studies indicate that this period varies; the average across the entire range is about six weeks.

Q. How does an eaglet learn what food items to hunt? Do eaglets learn to hunt from their parent or is this instinct?
A. The eaglet first learns to recognize foods in the nest; when it fledges and follows the parents, it learns by watching them and other eagles. It continues to learn by observation and through trial and error. The predator’s instinct to pursue prey is innate and is fine-tuned through learning and experience.

Q. How do you sex eaglets?
A. Biologists measure beaks and feet to determine sex but this method, while good, is not always accurate. Eaglets in studies are weighed and measured prior to banding and many biologists now also take blood samples to confirm sex.

Lemon & Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Lemon Curd Filling

It's been a few weeks since I made cucpcakes and I figured it was about time to whip up a batch. A good friend of mine asked for a private class because her sister is coming for a visit tomorrow, I asked her what kind of cupcakes she wanted and she said "lemon". These are pretty time consuming but so worth it.
If someone held a gun to my head and asked me to choose between chocolate and lemon I think I would be saying goodbye to you all right now. I love them both!

Turn the music box on the right side off to hear this one

Summer is here and I know we are all looking for a easy fun way to shed the pounds ...why not try using your WII "Lets Dance" Check out these twin boys workin' it.

Girls night(s) out

Friday Night Out:

The other day I suggested to one of the girls that we needed to go out together since I hadn't been out with the "posse" (Jackie, Tanya, Erin, myself and Charlie our honorary member) since Jackie's birthday in March and that's a long time for us. So she picked up ticket to go to the Hilton for Friday night to see this amazing 10 year old  kid Ethan Bortnick. He is a great little piano player, playing everything from Mozart to Billy Joel and all things in between.
Not our typical "girls night out" but was fun just the same - I always have fun when the posse is together.

Saturday Night out:
So from one extreme to the other ...Last night posse number 2; me, Ronna, Ardith and Sally went back to the Paris hotel to see 75 year old Engelbet Humperdinck. I was expecting him to open his show with one of his old standards ...Please release me or After the lovin' but what a surprise when he opened the show with a Santana song..Smooth. He did sing his old stuff most of which Ronna and I would look over at each other and shrug or shoulders to indicate we had never heard the song before but Ardith and Sally knew nearly all of them. You really just can't go wrong seeing a show at the Paris Hotel, I think I have seen 3 or 4 shows there now and they all have  really been top notch shows. Great weekend with great friends, those of you who live in Las Vegas should be taking advantage of our wealth of entertainment here and those who do not live here ...Viva Las Vegas.

This post goes out to Ed a dear friend of mine.  I am lucky to be able to call Ed my mentor, my inspiration and my friend.
I met Ed several years ago when I was just getting into lapidary work through the Rock and Gem society here in Las Vegas. He has a full shop at his house and my very first experience with rock cutting and polishing was with him. Ed is the most generous, patience teacher I have ever had. He has more than 50 years experience in the  lapidary field and shares it all unconditionally.
Ed recently took a fall at his house and broke a hip and is now recovering in The Henderson Heathcare Center and making progress every day. I went for a visit and to my surprise he grew a beard and his hair long, the story goes his daughter wanted to see how he would look with a beard ... but Ed went all out for her, I almost didn't recognize him. I had a nice visit with him and he said he was anxious to get out of bed and home where he belongs. Take care of yourself Ed, work hard in therapy and try not to flirt with the nurses too much.

Oh Mandy....

 I know I am going to date myself but do you remember Barry Manilow back in the 70's? he looked looked like such a geeky kid didn't he? I was in high school  and at that time I remember him being on the radio constantly.  I guess there were alot of Manilow fans since five of his albums were on the best selling charts simultaneously in 1978, I think I might still have one of his albums. I am sure I must have danced to some of his music at Prom or surely at the Valentines dance at school.


Well that was him then and this is him now. I recently was out with a friend who had told me she would really love to see Barry Manilow if I was ever able to get tickets via my House Seats membership.
I was able to get tickets for last Saturday night and followed up on that promise. We had really great seats ... 5th row center to be exact. I was surprised at the sold out show and the participation of the audience. I really wasn't expecting much but the show was to my surprise really pretty good. Of course he did all the popular tunes but also threw in some new ones from a new CD he just released called 15 minutes. What I really liked about the show is how generous he was with his personal life, he even played a crackly recording of him singing when he was 4 years old.
His stage was beautiful and at times it was down right elegant.
I wouldn't have considered seeing this show if my friends Nancy and Julie hadn't told me that it was a good show to see even if you were never a Manilow fan. So ....go see it if you get a chance it was a fun evening will remind you of younger days.

Have a safe and Happy 4th

You meet the nicest People at Art and Soul

How cute are these little cupcake salt and pepper shakers?
Yesterday I was relaxing after my Silver Art Clay class when my husband brought in the mail and in it was this surprise gift from one of my very creative friends. I first met Ellen last year in Portland Oregon at Art And Soul, she was signed up for the same class that my sister and I were taking. We got to talking and I gave her my business card. It turns out Ellen has a home in Mesquite and spends some of the Winter months there and now comes to visit me when she is in Nevada. This year Ellen and I took the same class at the Art And Soul here in Las Vegas at The Green Valley Ranch.
You really must go to Art And Soul...you meet the nicest people there. I have already signed up for Portland in September and can hardly wait. What a small world the creative community is, yesterday in class I was talking about how excited I am and can't wait to take this class from this amazing artist I found on line and it turns out that one of my ladies in class is very good friends with her...who knew?

Thanks again Ellen for being so sweet and thinking of me, I love these little cupcakes!!

An Evening in Paris

Thursday night I took my dear friend Ardith to the Paris Hotel for dinner and the Magic of Paris show staring Stephane Vanel for her birthday celebration. I met Ardith years ago when
I was teaching and managing the Bead Buffet bead store in Henderson (it has since closed). We became friends then and have always kept in touch by going to breakfast every couple of months to catch up on all the goings on in our lives. Some of you may know her and those of you don't are missing out on a very special person. Happy Birthday Ardith, here is to many many more years of friendship.

10 years ago today

Ten years ago today I lost my mother to cancer, it's hard to believe that it has been 10 years already maybe because I still think about her so much and feel her around me so much to this day. My mother was a smoker for my entire life and died of lung cancer...so to my daughter and all of my friends who smoke...please stop! My mother was a talented published poet and artist, she was a perfectionist to say the least. I asked her once to write me a poem, and for my 25th birthday she presented me with the following gift of this poem.

You,
burrowed in my heart and nested there like some small snuggled swallow
My little one
I watched you spread your winds and soar...
you made me proud.
I gave you all I had to give;
A love of books, and beauty from my mother,
The spirit of adventure from your dad,
the luxury of solitude to be yourself,
the gift of tears, a curiosity for the truth,
the talent to forgive ...and to forget.
And I look at you and see the girl I never was,
the woman I had hoped to be
the mother that I should have been
Could this dead tree have brought forth such a lovely bloom?
I thank you for your gifts to me.
You are the keeper of the flame.
and like the swallow, you come back
to warm the branches of my heart.


Joan Pratt Finneran
December 26, 1925 - June 17 2001

Black Rose

                                        

Black Rose 

Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'

Last week while on vacation I stayed a few days at my daughters house in Costa Mesa, when we drove up to her place she had the most beautiful plants all around her place. I asked her fiance' what they were and he didn't know but said someone had given him 1 small plant a few years ago and from that one plant it just went crazy and now they have about 8 of these. I loved them so much that by the next morning when I woke up Johnathan had made me a small little plant to bring home. That morning I had my daughter take me to the nursery to ask about it and they told me it was call "The Black Rose". It is a succulent and takes full sun and gets about 4-5 feet tall. Thanks Johnathan this will be great for our desert weather, I can't wait for it to get big.

Grandma Rizzo

Okay Okay ....I am a Grandmother you know. Kaitlyn calls me Grandma Rizzo. In this photo

Kaleb and I are just chillin out.

This photo is my beautiful Daughter -in Law Karie with Kaitlyn - I had Tanya make matching aprons for Karie and Kaitlyn.

More photos in the older post below of my trip

Just got home from a great visit with my kids, my grand kids my sister and 3 of my long time girlfriends.
I flew into Orange County and my daughter picked me up at the John Wayne Airport- can't believe that airport pretty much looks the same as it did all those years ago

when I lived there. First things first...we went to Target to pick up a Wii game for Kaleb and (2) 1-2-3 cookers, one for my daughter Kori and one for my son Tyler. Then we were off to pick up my 9 year old grandson from school, he had an early day and got out of school at 1:00. Had a wonderful time with Kaleb and my daughter Kori, of course Kaleb and I played the Wii for hours.
Later that evening we met up with my sister Sheila for a yummy Mexican dinner at El Ranchero in Costa Mesa.
The next morning we got up and went to the Butterfly House and Environmental Center in Newport Beach, a really nice place to take kids to explore and learn about our environment. Next it was off to lunch and miniature golf ...of course Kaleb beat us both.

That night I went to South Coast Plaza to meet up with some friends at the Claim Jumper and got all caught up on jobs, husbands and boyfriends - I have known these girls for 30 years ....man I'm old!!

Thanks Denise for getting everyone together it was like old times.

The next morning Kori and I spent the morning together doing the pedicure thing and then off to Starbucks for coffee and to wait for my daughter in law and my Grand Daughter, Kaitlyn to pick me up and take me to their house in Chino Hills. We had to make a quick stop at the grocery store to buy all the makings for cupcakes...what else? Kaitlyn and I spent the afternoon making cupcakes..she is at the perfect age for baking, we had tons of fun and laughs as we baked.

The next day we went to Medieval Times in Buena Park and were placed on the green team. I really thought this would be a little scary for Kaitlyn but she clapped and yelled for the green team for the next 2 hours.Our green Knight rode up on his white horse and threw a flower in the crown to her and she was thrilled and felt like a princess. She loved the show and said she wanted to go back for her birthday. She is such a good girl and did I mention how cute she is? We watched tv, talked, walked the dogs, talked, went to lunch, talked, went to the movies, talked oh and then we talked some more. Okay okay so she takes after me



Here is Kaitlyn with her new cupcake apron that Tanya made.

New Classes

Just wanted to tell everyone about some new cool classes here in Henderson Nevada. My friend Tanya is a sewing wizard and is now teaching fantatic classes ....you gotta check them out.

“Sew Obsessed" Bag

Come join Tanya as she teaches her exclusive "Sew Obsessed" bag. Her personal

design is darling and features beautiful had made flowers and antique buttons.

This bag and pattern can only be found at our store! Make sure to sign up quick

since limited space is available. Beginners are welcome. Must purchase the $9.95

pattern before the first class. * Bring your own machine.

Cost: $30

Date: Sat, June 4

Time: 10:00am-3:00 p.m

Instructor: Tanya Greb
Space is limited! Call 702-776-8038 today to reserve your spot.

Mothers Day

Grandparents give roots, parents give wings

Happy Mother's Day to all the strong wonderful women we call Mother's

Edith Pratt- My maternal Grandmother & Joan Pratt Finneran- My mother

The New Babies are here

Kaitlyn and Friends and yes that bunny is big and REAL.

Nesting Cupcakes

Inspiration is all around, the sun is out, the air is warm and the pigeons are pooping all over my front porch ....life is good!

I know I am her Grandma but really....can she be any sweeter?
This is my son's daugter, Kaitlyn she just turned 4 years old this month. I can't believe how fast it has gone.

Choc-O-Lishous

Today I treated my class to really yummy cupcakes and thought I would share.

Devils Food Cupcakes with marshmallow cream filling and Chocolate Cream Cheese frosting.

Devils Food Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup hot water
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter
• 2 1/4 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream, room temperature

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together cocoa and hot water until smooth. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

2. Melt butter with sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring to combine. Remove from heat, and pour into a mixing bowl. With an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat until mixture is cooled, 4 to 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add vanilla, then cocoa mixture, and beat until combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the sour cream, and beating until just combined after each.

3. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-
   quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool 15 minutes; turn out cupcakes onto racks and let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.

Marshmallow Cream Filling

1 cup Marshmallow Fluff
1 cup butter

Beat until very fluffy.

Cut center of cupcake and fill

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

1. 1/4 cup heavy cream
2. 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
3. 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

1. MAKE THE FROSTING: Heat the cream in a small saucepan until steaming. Add the chocolate and let stand for 5 minutes. Add the butter and stir until smooth. Spread the top of each cupcake with the frosting. Spoon the reserved filling into a pastry bag fitted with a very small plain tip and pipe decorative swirls on each cupcake. Refrigerate the cupcakes for at least 10 minutes to set the frosting.