The Milestone Misti

So I recently retired from my career as a Secondary School teacher. I have many good memories from those days but I am ready to have a little more free time down the road. My very good friends who know me so well got me a Misti with all the accessories. I am having a blast figuring it out and it certainly will become a very useful tool in my arsenal...

I had a wonderful PAW-tay and this is my favourite retirement photo.

I don't have many/any photos of myself recently and I really wanted one with the dogs. Look at the gray on Lindor's chin. She's going to be 8 years old on Wed. Hard to be believe. She just became a grand-doggy again as her daughter Eden had another litter of 4 pups. Maya is slowing down. She likes to sleep a lot and chase the odd squirrel despite a bum knee.

I am looking forward to planning my next Fund-raising endeavour and volunteering more, travelling a bit, and spending more time with my family and friends. OH and maybe reading at least 20 books a year! Looking forward to this next phase.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

If you're like me, you buy one of those Rotissiere Chickens and there is always a bit left over. What to do? My friend Keri suggested this simple dish that is especially nice since you don't have to turn on the oven. Unless you have my luck which has your BBQ tank running out just before you pop this beauty on. It worked out really well in the oven also. Just placed it directly on the racks. If you use the BBQ, put it on the other side away from direct contact with the heat.

Ingredients:
Naan bread
BBQ sauce
Mozzarella cheese
Red Onion
Red Pepper
Chopped up cooked chicken

Spread a small amount of BBQ sauce on the naan bread. ( I found it sweet so don't go too crazy) and then top with your favourite ingredients finishing with a layer of cheese. Delish!

Paper Players Sketch Challenge

I love the sketches and The Paper Players had another good one this week...

I thought right away of the new Doodlebug Smitten Kitten collection that I just couldn't resist and happened to have. It would work perfectly for this sketch with all the cute paper options and sticker sheet. There are little kittens on the yellow paper and hearts on the pink.

I love the black outline on cards and I tried to finish the inside although I feel the sentiment is a bit small for the size of the card....

Freshly Made Sketches #246

I am a fan of Freshly Made sketches, they suit my style and I don't like adding a lot of frou-frou to my cards. I have been playing with the MFT card sketch and while I'm not a fan of tags on cards, I thought this one worked out pretty well. Here's the sketch FMS 246 ...

And here's my cow card...

I used jute twine to "tie" into the farm scene and adorable background paper. The cow was coloured with my Copics which were getting a little dusty, if you know what I mean. I used a stitched tag die from Your Next Stamp, I believe it was in a Christmas set.

Weekend Retreat

Yikes! It's been almost a month since I posted. Lots going on and the summer vacation has begun.
I was able to spend a great weekend away with a couple of my favourite people and do a little cardmaking and relaxing and of course, eating.
We got a great deal at Too Younique Scrapbooking Retreat in Mt. Forest and it was too good to pass up. The accomodations and scrapping area are just great and the food was wonderful and no cleanup.
Here's a few pics of the yummy goodness we were treated to...

Lunch

Dinner

Brunch

Wouldn't it be great to have your own personal Chef?

Hanging baskets

I must admit I have a bit of an obsession with Hanging baskets. Because I have 2 big dogs that like to
"protect" the backyard from birds, squirrels and other perceived threats, I have to keep most of my tender plants at least 3 feet up. Plus it's easier for me to putz around pinching off blooms etc when you don't have to bend over.
It started with 2 fuschias, only this time I bought the smaller blooming variety by mistake. Regardless, they have started to fill in beautifully and I really like them...

Then I was gifted this gorgeous arrangement....

I checked out a well known local variety that sells beautiful plants and while my driver picked up a couple baskets, I held back until later that day when I went to another nursery and had to buy a similar plant....

It was a little more grown and a little nutrient deficient but I like a challenge and should be able to keep it blooming all summer. Dragon's Beard Begonia is another favourite of mine.
THEN I spotted this fuschia...

I had to have it! The purple is almost black it is so dark and the buds and flowers were huge...

I hope I have some hummingbirds buzzing around soon as long as these guys stay sleeping in the sun...

The weather has been so beautiful, not too hot but was really getting dry. Today we are getting a slow, soaking rain, just what the gardens ordered.

MFT Sketch Challenge- A Wedding card

I needed a wedding card for a customer/family member and I don't usually make this type of card.  Fortunately, I picked up a cute Impression Obsession wedding cake die, like, yesterday and was able to put this card together. I kept it pretty neutral as I don't know the colour theme and thought it would work well with this week's MFT Sketch challenge....

I love paper piecing and even though it was a bit intricate, I thought it turned out great.

I hope she likes it too.