Misc

Almost finished- still needs a little more antiquing


Banks roses in back yard this morning

Hannah's awards / Finish it Day

Frank Riolo Award


Mrs Potter and fellow award/merit winners from GV


Hannah's BFFs at awards ceremony

Hannah entered two art competitions this month and won four certificates of merit at the first and the Frank Riolo award at the second and $500.00. Go Hannah! Hannah is now 5 for 5 with the schools. Heard from 5, accepted to 5. The big prize, Brown/RISD dual program, she will hear from in early April.

Finish it Day

Crocheting/Painting/Advent Tags

Pam's finished advent board- soooo pretty


My project- before - finished sanding it down
Dresser should be finished today-watch blog for photo

Finish it Day was spent mostly in the garage because three of us were painting. We had a lovely day for it. I was slow going on my project but I completed painting it the next day and today I will put on the final wax coat and it will be done. I had purchased the dresser at Salvation Army over a year ago and had tried to sell it, but no takers. It was an impulse buy, and I could not find the right spot for it. When I scheduled Finish it Day, I thought I might as well work on it and get it out of the garage. I love how it looks and I'm grateful no one else saw it's potential and bought it from me.

Hannah and I are still enjoying the leftover bagel smear Sue made, the delicious, tummy warming bread pudding from Paula, and the homemade salsa from Amy, (Hannah's favorite). Kudos ladies! We are also eating the dozen rolls I forgot to serve with lunch. Seems to be a new tradition with each class, Suzan forgets to serve some of the food. Will someone please ask at each event from now on, what the complete menu is? I even had it on the list on the fridge and still forgot! Senior moments. Argh! Speaking of senior..I used a senior discount for the very first time at Savers last week. They have senior Tuesdays and Hannah was there buying a vest. I saved $.32 cents. Wow! It really pays to be old.

My dear friend Kristin is coming into town this week and I cannot wait to go out and play. I miss her. She and her lovely family live in Idaho now, they escaped Vegas a couple of years ago. Kristin has a heart of gold, and how she manages a beautiful home full of five small boys and a husband is beyond me...and she always looks so pretty doing it.

Special thoughts and prayers go out to Amy, Pam and Macky. love you guys

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Pre-heat to 325

Use silpats or line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper

18 - 3" cookies

2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda (make sure it is fresh)

2 TB instant espresso powder

1 tsp pure vanilla (use the good stuff)

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 large egg, plus 1 large egg yolk

7 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate coarsely chopped (or find semi sweet chunks)

Whisk together flour, cocoa, salt, soda; set aside. In a small bowl stir espresso powder, vanilla, and 1 TB of water. Set aside.

In mixer bowl cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add egg and yolk, mix. Add espresso mixture, mix well.  At low speed add flour mixture in batches, mixing until combined. Stir in chocolate chunks.

Using 2 oz ice cream scoop, scoop heaping balls of dough and place 3" apart on baking sheets. Bake until set 20 minutes. Remove and cool before removing cookies.

Add 1 very cold glass of milk ( we put ice in ours in this household) and don't let the thought of calories enter your mind. Also delicious with coffee.

Don't feel like baking? Come to Finish it Day and enjoy these cookies here.

Good Things

Remembering dear Libbey - I miss her.

Hannah just found out Tuesday she got one of her paintings into another show, this after winning four certificates of merit at another show 2 weeks ago. We were very happy with the news and then the next day I received a call from the legal counsel of a CEO of one of the local casinos and he, the CEO, wanted to buy the painting for $500.00. Some of you know the painting, it is the one that hangs (used to hang) in my bedroom. The painting is of Hannah's blue jeaned legs and her ratty old "chucks" sneakers. Although she is reluctant to sell it, it will help with her spending money for college. I'm sad to see it go, it was a favorite.

Speaking of college, Hannah has heard from three and been accepted to three. We're still anxiously awaiting word from the rest.

A Happy Birthday shout out today to my dear friends Pam and Lorene. Happy Birthday Ladies! You both are still looking mighty fine, and have the kindness to match.

So far we have four for Finish it Day. C'mon, get registered. You don't have to stay all day if you are not able, come for a couple of hours at least. I just know there are projects out there, dusty, neglected and in need of help. This really does work. You will accomplish something, I promise! Scrapbook, organize some pictures, cut strips for quilting, bind a quilt. Crochet, knit, or hook a rug. Make jewelry, paint small wood pieces or make cards. You could even finish a project from a Gathering! There's an idea. I know there are advent tags still not completed.......Housework can wait, besides they say it's going to rain and if it really pours there is no better place to be than on my back porch listening to the rain hit that tin roof.

Further temptation. I am making my enormous chocolate chunk cookies...come and get 'em....

Finish it Day

Finish it Day is Saturday March 14th
We will start at 10:00 and finish? You may arrive after 10 if you like and leave at any time.Of course early birds get their pick of room and seating options, important if you are going to do hand needlework.We are featuring comfort foods for the day, with a meal around lunch time and then we will "graze" all day.

You must register by Sunday the 8th to attend. Finish it day is free to anyone who has taken a class and $10.00 to others. Everyone brings one pot luck dish to contribute to the meal. I will provide hot and iced tea, coffee and lemonade, and other goodies.
Please feel free to bring waters and sodas to enjoy.
Sorry, no children are permitted to attend.

You may work on anything you desire, you can even paint small items in the garage if you wish, I may be doing some of that myself!

Hope many of you will join me-this is a great way to check off one or more things from your "to do" list and finally enjoy that finished project. Not to mention the great food and fabulous ladies who always make it a day filled with laughter and shared life experiences.

See you soon!