A Christmas vacation visit.

Every year over my Christmas vacation from work,we get our grandaughter for a few days. This year is especially special to us,as it is the last year in our home here in California. We move this spring to Idaho to live out our dream of having a hobby farm. Don't know how many Christmases we will get to have Autumn at our home for vacation after this. Hope we still get to have many visits still.

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My Purple crazy lady.....

 I love searching the Internet, I find the most beautiful things, images, poems....

often leaves me intrigued, inspired, awestruck.  I love reflecting on the things I find... for example. My most favorite color is PURPLE.

My Love of purple ......

Mooove over roudolph

Santa actually came to town on a cow. Who said anything about a sleigh or reindeer.  I love my new teapot.

Hand work

My friend Annette and her mom are so talented. The crochete plum pudding is a pattern from France.  And the pillow crossstitch is also made from a special fiber from France. Thank you Annette.

Tis the season.

Love my crafting projects,especially at Christmas time.

My Love of Horses

Lucious Lucas

Remi and Me

Beautiful Bonnie

Bonnie

Carin with Baby Remi and Mommy. 

Being raised on a ranch in Half Moon Bay, I remember being around horses as long as I can remember.   Earlier I posted some pictures of horses I love that are my neices.  Here are more.  My best day is a day riding with my kids and neice out at the ranch on the coast of California.   She has a trail riding business and has rescued and rehabilitated most of her horses.  She has a Horse rescue Non Profit called Hoof Beats of America... if anyone wants a horse she adopts them out to good homes.  She is Keeping Remi and Bonnie.

Peek a Boo


I could not possibly post all the pictures I have of over 27 horses here on my blog.   These are just a few that I took on a day at my niece's ranch.

My love of Horses.

I love this picture. Young country girl is roping. I dont know who she is, but she reminded me so much of what my little Grandaughter might look like once she got older.   This picture really has nothing to do with my life other that the fact that I love it. When my oldest daughter was young I gave her riding lessons, she loved it, was good at it and is great with horses.  we've always had a connection to horses.  My neice has 27 of them. while Im at it, I will post more pictures of horses that I really have met.

  

Majectic Gabrielle. He was destined to be dog food but my niece rescued him.   His spirit is huge.  Love him. He was scampering as I was walking up to him with carrots in my hand.  Knew auntie Mary was coming with treats for him. He was fun to ride that day.   

Laugh at me will you?   These horses love carrot treats I tell ya.

A day at the ranch. Rode horses all day on oceanside trials.Two of my kids, Anthony and Carin. 

Very Happy

Greatful for so many things tonite.   I am feeling sentimental as it's my oldest daughters 29th birthday.  I can't believe how time has flown by.  Shes a soldier in the Army, served in Iraq and is currently in the Army National Guard. She has given me two wonderful grandchildren... and not to mention a few grey hairs.   I reflect on this day and can't help but to smile, and remember that little baby girl with blue eyes and a head full of black hair. Turned blond within days and eyes stayed blue.  She was and still is a firecracker.  Happy Birthday to christina. you'll allways be my precious little girl.

MaryJanes Farmgirl sisterhood Connection ATC swap

Had to post pictures of two ATC swaps Ive just participated in with the MaryJanes Farmgirl Sisterhood connection.   Its a wonderful group of ladies that share ideas, toughts, support and we participate of many types of swaps... found myself enjoying these swaps.  These ATC's come from allover the great country of ours.  Made be remarkable women with stories as unique and different.  

YOU CAN ALLWAYS TAKE THE FARMGIRL OFF THE FARM, BUT YOU CANNOT EVER TAKE THE FARM OUT OF THE FARMGIRL.

Happy Autumn Blessings

Happy Autumn Blessings

I made this banner for my Daughters home for Thanksgiving.

Instead of putting Thanksgiving Blessings I thought I would put Autumn blessings

because Autumn is my Grandaughter's name. and they can hang it in her bedroom all year long.

Hobby farm Dreams come true.

We Put in a offer to buy a House on Land in Idaho.. over a month ago... 

Yesterday we got the call that they accepted offer.

2 green acres to do what we want with. We get to Plant huge organic gardens, Put in a fruit and nut tree orchard, have chickens, a horse or a cow. I get to build a barn with my usband and go camping outside in my own backyard.   Work hard and your dreams do come true. 

Veterans Day Weekend Fun

Our Vetrans Day Weekend

Being that our oldest daughter Christina is in the Army as is Justin we decided that we needed to go to their house and play with the grandkids and have some fun with them.   They live 3 hours away from us and since our youngest son Blaine has been in Waterpolo  every weekend, we haven't had one weekend free in a couple months.  It was 4 months since we've seen Christina, Justin and Baby Mason and Autumn.  It was a delightful weekend.  We played our favorite game Apples to Apples as we sipped wine and Christina put on a FEAST.  We enjoyed the Granchildren as well .  Christina knows that I love to craft, quilting is one of my favorite things so she decided that she at the age of almost 29 decided that she wants to learn to quilt and since a friend of hers at work had a baby, it was the perfect occassion.  We cut, sewed, layered and almost finished the entire quilt before it was time for me to hit the dusty trail back home.   First time shes ever been interested in quilting, shes artistic..but with paints. And being in the ARMY and having two kids and two dogs and 3 acres to care for she hasn't had the time to learn.  I thought I'd never see the day, and it made me giddy to see her sit in front of a sewing machine.  Pics to follow.  Happy Vetrans Day! 

Laying the rows together.

Newly sewn  Teddy Bear Blanket and
Beanie Babies

Grandpa with Mason

Happy Mason,  

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Autumns Heart Pillow because I love her with all  my Heart.

Autumn was so cute, she asked me to make her a big heart pillow.  I had fat quarters with me so we  stitched one together quickley and she enjoyed stuffing it herself.   She says that she wants to be a sewer when shes a grandma too.

Stuffing the Purple Heart Pillow.
Purple is our favorite color and I love her with all my heart.

Waterpolo Bliss

My youngest sons High school Waterpolo team came in 1st place in their league with a 23-2 record.  They are now playing for the North coast Championship in the State of CA.  Good luck Heritage Patriots!  The Dream team! Here they are pictured cold, wet but winners in the 1st of 4 playoff games.   My son is the bottom row 2nd from the right.. Lots of smiles, and happy parents too.  

Portugese Kidney Bean Soup
Barbara Leal Peugh

My mom made the best portuges soups... this one I've learned to ACE thanks to her skillfull teaching and the fact that she had it published  in her church cookbook.   Whenever I miss my mom sometimes I will make her soup. Comfort food for sure. Served with sweet bread ( aka Kings Hawaiin Bread) .


Serves 6 to 8

1 Medium onion
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
7 Cups Water
1 pound cooked smoked ham or 1 ham bone
1 large Linguicia sliced
1 bay leaf
1 tsp allspice
1.2 Cup tomato sauce
1 can/jar Marinara sauce
3-1/2 Cups red kidney beans or pink beans ( cooked or canned)
1 Cup sliced carrots
3 Cups peeled and diced potatoes
salt and pepper to taste

In large soup kettle cook onions with garlic powder in oil until lightley browned, add and brown linguicia . Add water and the ham bone. Bring to Boil. Reduce heat, simmer about 30 minutes.Add bay leaf, allspice, tomato sauce and Marinara sauce, beans and potatoes and carrots, simmer covered for one hour. Remove hambone and cut up the meat and return it to the soup.


In memory of my mom. One proud Portugese woman!

Farmgirl Sisterhood Fall ATC Swap

Well, Being a member of the MaryJane Butters Farmgirl sisterhood gives one a opportunity to reach out and meet online and in person  with like minded women.   Women that have things in common and perhaps share ideas, recipes, hobbies,  laughs and tears.  One of the things we do a lot of is Swaps of all kinds.... ( no husbands, boyfriends or significant others involved here!) I just finished and have ready to send out Artist Trading Cards... all a little different from eachother but with the same theme and charistics.  This Theme is What does Thanksgiving mean to me.... and this year, we have lots of changes in our Family.  Husband retiring, moving, baby boy of 5 kids is Graduating from High School.  So, I chose... the Season of Change, Family and falling leaves in a fall color theme with leaves and of course a bird... ( I love birds). These little babies took a while as there was a collage in each piece... frames with copper tape.  Cant wait to see what comes back to me... I love these Farmgirl Sisterhood Swaps.        

Family, Falling Leaves its a Season of Change. 

Front view...

Well, weve talked about moving to Idaho for 5 years now.  or maybe even longer. My wonderful husband fell in love with Idaho on several camping trips we've taken here over the years with our kids.  He has allways wanted to have a farm/ranch out somewhere in Idaho.  So, now that he is retiring next month... we brought ourselves out on a little trip for 5 days.  We had a realtor show us about 22 homes on different size acerage... and today. He put in a bid for a house that he loved.  Im leaving the decision up to him mostley the only thing I care about is that we are together, happy and able to go on adventures.. and I have a sewing, crafting room.  I am excited that the place he picked has acerage and the house is not some old broken down farm house that will be in need of a lot of repairs.  Yes, we will be building fences, putting in fruit trees and painting the interior... but in the mean time we will live our next 9 months in California.  We will focus on what we need to do there at home before we even worry about the Idaho house.. and we know that the seller accepted the offer, now we need to wait to see if the lender on the house will accept the bid as it is a short sale offer.   wish us luck. Hopefully, Idaho here we come.   2 acres. Near town, but in farmlands... Nampa outskirts.

Room for livestock, chicken coop, large garden and fruit trees. Back View

Phil Vassar and I on my Birthday.

I got to Meet PHIL VASSAR on my Birthday, and I diddn't have a camera... but this nice lady whom I've never met before captured the moment and emailed me the pictures.   Sometimes a stranger can be nicer than anyone you know.... The lesson I learned in this is NEVER GO TO A SMALL VENUE CONCERT AND FORGET YOUR CAMERA.... YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU'LL MEET!

I'm glad to meet you Phil, No, I'm glad to meet you... Thank you for coming
No, Phil... Im glad to meet you. Its my Birthday... Well, have a fun night, and really I'm glad I got to meet you!
He was funny!

My Homage to Gardening... Collage art

I just turned 52. Its a tough pill to swallow, but I have two choices. Celebrate, or crumble.  I decided to celebrate.   I have so many blessings. Nothing is perfect and There are a lot of things I wish I could change... the things I can change... I will. But more than anything my 52nd birthday is a huge milestone for me.  I know from this point on that every day is a gift, a diamond... and a celebration.  My happiness is dependent on my attitude.  One of the things I love is doing my art work. So on my birthday I decided to make something and I wanted it to reflect something I love. I found a paper mache dress form.  Layers and layers and layers I have my HOMAGE to GARDENING.  Now I want to make a HOMAGE to sewing, and one for chickens and farm life, one for photography, and so on and so on... you get the idea.   
This was fun making... and very relaxing and inspiring.  

On my birthday I got to meet PHIL VASSAR and he sang " my next 30 years" ... and when I listened to those lyrics... I realize... this may be all there is for me now... I need to make the best of them. I need to not worry about the small stuff and be happy. 

     My homage to gardening.


Side View and Front - Dream

Back view.... BLOOM. I love the butterfly and the leaf vine ribbon accent.

Front view... The skirt is made from pages of the shakespear classic

Midsummers Night Dream.   This was a fun project. Looking foward to my next one.

It really feels and smells like fall at my house.

Well, this morning we had to run outside to move the wood patio furniture and all the cushions and pillows because it was RAINING.   It was the first rain of the year and I have to admit... I loved the smell and the feel of the rain.  I watched and took it in for a bit, and then it stopped, just like it came.... but luckily enough it came back.  after reveling in the change of season, I came into the house and there on my kitchen island sat a big box of beautiful green organic apples that my dear friend Laura gave me.. I knew I wasn't going to be home long enough to make pies which was my first idea, so I pulled out one of my most favorite recipe books and found a easy recipe to make APPLE CRISP.   It is soooo very easy.  Being the scrapbooker, family historian and scrapbooker that I am.... I had to take photos and thought I would post the recipe and photos to share.  

Out come the Apple Peeler Corer Slicer

Probably one of my most favorite tool in the kitchen.

Then place the apples in a  glass baking dish. Like this...

8 Cups of Sliced Apples

Sprinkle apples with 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 2 Tbl cinnamon

then sprinkle with 1/4Cup Water.

Mix with hands in medium bowl:

1 1/4 Cup all purpose flour

1 Cupgranulated sugar

1 stick butter *not margarine

sprinkle evenly over apples

Bake at 375 for 45 minutes

cool and enjoy with vanilla ice cream or whip cream

guaranteed to be delicious

and fill your home with the warm smells of FALL