Robins

 

This will be my penultimate entry for Jo's theme, which is Nature at Art Journal Journey.

I named this spread Robins for obvious reasons.  And because these robins have faces, I will be joining Nicole's Friday Face Off later tonight. 

 

Now for a few detail images.

 

I started with a sheet of blue scrapbook paper and added painted bubble wrap to the background.  I had these two  postage stamps from Hong Kong and finally found a use for them.  Technically, they are not robins, but they look close to it.  I layered various papers to the background and laid them over more scrap paper.  I was trying to get rid of the extra disparate pieces I had accumulated over the past few months.  

Bleubeard and I are so very pleased you joined us and hope to see you at Art Journal Journey as you share your own interpretation of Nature.   Please also join Bleubeard and me at Friday Face Off.

 

T Stands For Spice Merchant pt 8: Spices

 

Today I am back at the Spice Merchant.  Elle (eotc) keeps asking about the spices, so that's where we will go today.

EDIT: My electricity went off about the time I was ready to publish a comment to Valerie.  I was frightened my pipes would freeze, but thankfully the electric company had the problem fixed in about three hours.  Since I was freezing, the boys and I huddled under the covers and I promptly went to sleep.  I seem to do that a lot lately.  Temperature was predicted to be 11 F (-11.67 C) overnight.

Elle asked for spices.

Here they are.  When no one is there to open and weigh the spices, they rope off the area.

I suspect they are in alphabetical order.

I'm short enough I was able to duck in under the rope.

This is where they weigh the spices.

I love those posters of the different peppers.

 

Don't want to wait to have  your spices weighed? Some are ready for you to take.

Can you see the rope keeping people from grabbing the spices?  Love the tee of the Wichita flag.

A few more spices on the shelves on the right side of the photo.

Spice blends.

Here, too.

Love the old spices on display above the spices that are for sale.

Notice!

 

I slipped under the rope to get this shot.  More scales here, too.

More spices that were prepackaged.

And because I need a drink or a vessel of a drink, I give you this from last week:

 

I would like to remind you it's now time to dig up your Second on the 2nd.  Any genre, any size, as long as it has been published sometime in the past.

Monday Murals: Iola, Kansas

 

It's time once again to join Sami at Sami's Colourful World and her Monday Murals.  Even though it's still Sunday in my world, please be aware that Sami's mural link goes live at 10:01 a.m. my time today. BTW, I'm getting a ton of "Failed to Publish" messages.  Just when I thought blogger had its act together, it gets weird on me again.

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Scott and I traveled to Missouri, the state just east of Kansas.  On our way home, I spotted this mural in Iola, Kansas (USA).

It was on the side of a building that surrounded the square.

I discovered it because of its bright colors.

It appears to have been painted by IF.

I didn't think to get the name of the cross street, but it was on Hwy 254 in Iola.

If you enjoy murals from around the world, please don't forget to visit Monday Murals at Sami's Colourful World.

 

Birds and Eggs with a little help from my friends

 

 Today I'm joining Jo, our host this month at Art Journal Journey.  Jo's theme is Nature. 

I definitely had a little help from my friends to create this entry.  I even have several detail shots.

 

 

I definitely got help from friends to create this spread.  The Birds from north to south and the egg transparencies came from Linda at HeARTfully Inspired.  The New Zealand blue duck was in my stash of postage stamps, the focal bird was sent to me by maybe Chris or Erika, co-administrators at Art Journal Journey (sadly I don't remember who sent it), and the butterfly and thesaurus were in my stash.  I found the background in a group of pages sent me by a dear friend who no longer has a blog.

 

Bleubeard and I are so very pleased you joined us and hope to see you at Art Journal Journey as you share your own interpretation of Nature.

 

Friday Smiles 330: It's Friday (Black Friday)

 

It's Friday, which means it's time to join Friday Smiles, hosted by Annie (at A Stitch in Time).  Let's visit Annie and the other wonderful ladies who also share their smiles each Friday. 

 

 

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

Thanks for visiting.  Bleubeard and I would love to see you at Friday Smiles, too. 

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all in the states

 

I am so grateful you stopped by today.  I am giving thanks that you stopped by to celebrate with me.

    Happy Thanksgiving to those who live in the USA and observe the holiday.   Happy Thursday to all my international friends.

  This is the day when families gather to give thanks.

   Prayer, in the form of grace is often given before the meal.  Originally celebrated as a religious holiday for giving thanks to God for helping the Pilgrims make it through the first year at Plymouth Colony, Thanksgiving now includes such events as the Presidential pardoning of two turkeys, the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, and a gathering of family for a traditional Thanksgiving meal, making it one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Thanksgiving is also a celebration of the harvest and a day to watch a favorite football team.   That's AMERICAN football, not to be confused with what we call soccer. 

  A look back at 2022, this is what you might be fixing today if you live in the States. 

 

  As you can tell, the turkey is the star of the show.  And because the turkey has a face, I will be joining Nicole's Friday Face Off later tonight.

As some of you know, this is my favorite holiday of the year.   There is no pressure to give gifts like on Christmas or Valentine's Day.

Today before anyone in the US is awake, I'm sending special thanks to my loyal internet friends, followers, and readers.  In many ways, you have become my family.  

 

The only stuffed bird on my holiday table is the one you see above.  There will, however, be pumpkin pie and hopefully some pumpkin bread topped with pumpkin spice butter.  I have included the pumpkin spice butter recipe below.

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons ice water
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions

 

Place heavy whipping cream in a food processor or stand mixer.

Process for about 5 minutes. (It will go from liquid to whipped cream consistency and then start to look like crumbly butter.)

Remove the excess water from the solid butter.

Add the ice cold water and strain a second time.

Add the remaining ingredients and pulse or beat for a few seconds to combine.

Press onto saran wrap and roll into a log. Place in fridge for an hour to harden

 

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it and happy Thursday to my international friends.