May 26, 2012

Traveling Shoes

Vintage BALLY Adorna

will they also be brave enough to travel?

Have your shoes ever taken a trip without you?

These shoes are made for traveling,

and that's just what they do

One of these days these shoes,

are going to stop and visit you.

Well, I had a pair of shoes decide to travel the country, without the new owner.

I had two orders to ship with severe gallbladder pains hampering my vision. Printing the mailing labels, I attached them to the shipping boxes. Dropped the boxes at the post office on my way to the hospital.

RoseFeather Lifelike Handmade

Ruby Red Feather Roses

One box contained a dozen feather roses being shipped to a wonderful woman in Washington State, from her son for Mother Day. The other contained a pair of shoes on their way to Texas. Imagine my surprise when the shoes decided to arrive in Washington State.

I promptly sent a new shipping label to the understanding recipient in Washington state.

Off for testing to see if I needed surgery.

Emails flying, Doctor's visits, and the prognosis, luckily, the shoes arrived before my scheduled surgery.

The grand tour courtesy of USPS Priority Mail and two shipping labels.

FORT MYERS FL 5/5/12 10:40am

OAK HARBOR WA 05/19/12 2:59pm

KENT WA 05/19/12 11:15pm

COPPELL TX 05/20/12 10:55pm

TAMPA FL 05/22/12 9:53pm

FORT MYERS FL 05/24/12 4:51am

COPPELL TX 05/26/12 1:24am

MCKINNEY TX 05/26/12 1:24pm

These shoes should bring the new very understanding own many adventures, as they are not afraid to travel.

May 23, 2012

Stay Alive... Just Drive

SAFE DRIVING IS NOT EXPENSIVE, IT'S PRICELESS!

"Since the introduction of the automobile, distractions have always been a major factor in the safe operation of a vehicle. Distracted driving puts other drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians in the bull’s-eye. Given the number of distractions in these days of electronic technology, along with eating, grooming and dealing with small children, society needs to accept the fact that distracted driving has become a public health threat."

Why I rented a spot at the local Stay Alive Just Drive Public Safety BBQ Cook-off held at Harley Davidson Fort Myers.

#1 it is a great organization.

#2 I wanted to work on my displays!

What my set up looked like when I began this season.

A borrowed blue canopy top left dark shadows.

Here are the results of my new booth set up!

I hung displays on the walls of my tent.

Reorganized all of my displays.

Now to improve the set up time. This took me just over 2 hours, after 3 weeks of preparation.

I really like the looks of my booth from the front.

Views as you walk towards my tent.

The concrete blocks on the tent footing are a must, as wind will move the tent. But I do not like the looks.

And Here I have a friend visiting me during the event.

A customer!

The white carpet does not stay white on blacktop.

Carpet squares would be much easier.

And adjustment to my signage is a must this one is hanging to low.

Earrings were raining down as the breeze hit the tent walls or people passed between the tents. Knocking the earrings off the display. I need to reinforce and place a buffer between the tent and the board.

I will be ready for next season. For now the temperature is getting to high and most of the shoppers have gone north.

May 21, 2012

Barbara Ellis, Artist Extrodinaire

The Lions Club Farmers Market located at the Promenade At Bonita Bay, has been a wonderful place for me to set up my booth. The people I have met are friendly and smile easily.

Heart-Heart

Now I have made the acquaintance of a wonderful bead artist Barbara Ellis. She has an artist shop in the Promenade. Barbara was sitting outside her studio working on a new bead project, as I walked by.

I joined her at the table. To watch Barbara work, is to realize you are in the presence of a true artist. I hope someday, to be able to create as easily as she does.

Check out the information on her work at Bead-Patterns.com

April 15, 2012

The cuff bracelet.

Handmade Wide Stretch Cuff Bracelet - Brass

As I was packing my jewelry show last week, I noticed this bracelet had been moved and did not get into the proper box, I slid it on my wrist and continued, carefully packing the baby hats.

Imagine my surprise when I arrived home to discover the bracelet still on my wrist! It was so comfortable I forgot I had it on. Now my inventory will be short a bracelet as I plan on keeping one of the Brass Wide Stretch Cuff Bracelet for myself.

April 9, 2012

Easter Bunnies Become Chocolate Bread Pudding

If you are like me chocolate and Easter go hand in hand. And the day after Easter I rush to the stores to purchase the leftover Easter bunnies (other chocolate works as well). Now, the photo is not my pudding. It does not last long enough for a photo! But the bunny will also work in place of other chocolate in recipes.

Dessert Cooking Class Cookbook

Chocolate Bread Pudding
4 cups dried (stale is best) French Bread cubes (or I used croissants)
2 cups low fat chocolate milk (I used plain low fat milk and grated chocolate candy the old Easter bunny came in handy)
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teas cinnamon
2 large egg whites
1 whole egg
2 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 tablespoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 8"x8"x2" baking dish
1. In a large bowl place the bread cubes. Pour the chocolate milk over cubes; stir and mash until bread is well soaked. (Mixture will be very moist but not soupy. If needed, add more chocolate milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until bread is well, soaked.)

2. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cocoa, and cinnamon. In a medium size bowl, use a rotary beater to beat together the egg whites, egg, butter, and vanilla. Add the sugar mixture, then beat until combined. Add egg mixture to the bread mixture. Gently stir until combined. (Do not over beat the white or the pudding will be dry.)

3. Turn the mixture into the prepared dish. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more or until almost set in the center. Let stand on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Serve. Make 9 servings.

( you can freeze the left overs and reheat at a later date, that is if you have any left!

March 14, 2012

Chicken Enchilada

I have not been posting regularly. I added selling locally to my list of activities. As much as I enjoy it it does take a large chunk of time in preparation.

Dinners have been hit and miss. This is a simple dish I make using cooked chicken. It is amazing how far a rotisserie chicken will go.

Chicken Enchilada

1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Salsa Verde "Tomatillo"

2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese with Jalapeno Peppers
1/2 large onion, chopped

6 flour tortillas (6" diameter), warmed

Serve on the side

1c shredded Lettuce

1 small tomato, sliced

1/4 sliced avocado

1 green onion, sliced

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mix Chicken, onion, cheese and 1/4 jar Pace® Salsa Verde "Tomatillo"

Divide chicken mixture among tortillas. Roll up tortillas and place seam-side town in 11 x 7 x 2" baking dish. Pour remaining Pace® Salsa Verde "Tomatillo" over filled tortillas. Cover baking dish.

Bake 40 minutes or until enchiladas are hot and bubbling.