Thursday Things That Make Me Happy

• Counting-down on paper chains.

(The Girl made this... she is counting down days until she see her Paw and Grannie. Only 44 chains left!) 

• Banana treats...

•  ...for a monkey boy.

...and his mother.

• Sweet smelling soaps that make me want to clean.

• Wildlife in my own back yard.

• Two Bambies. Love their spots.

• Teaching our kids to play poker. 

•  Traditions - I told the kids how my dad taught us how to play poker on camping trips. They want to play with him but are hoping to play like the "olden days" (a.k.a - when I was a kid)...we didn't bet with pennies. We played for m&m's.

• Crocheting a poncho... with a name that's like my own.

•  Being almost done...

• Quiet times.

•  Lego mansions.

• A teenage boy who is generous with his smile.

These things. They make me happy.

Random (Flowery) Thoughts from Kellie's Brain

I'm sure by now you've guessed that I have an obsession a passion for flowers.

I love them, but I also really love to make them. Paper, yarn, fabric, tissue, beads, all flower-making medium is fair game... and this week wool-felt is my textile of choice.

I found this picture through Pinterest, (Go on, CLICK HERE to see the picture and then come back, I'll wait.)

OK... So glad you came back.

Seriously, if those beautifully colored felt dahlia's don't make your heart just swell with happiness, well... I'm worried about you.

Then again, maybe you should worry about me, because that picture made me want to run warp-speed to my studio/office and start making these bold, blooming, blossoms by the dozens.

Yesterday, I did my very best to muster up enough self-control to get two things done: teach some school, and finish up my last crochet project (pics below).

But then, without stopping at Go (or fixing lunch,) I found my wool-felt stash and sat to work.

My first attempt turned out all right. Not quite as neat and tidy as the picture, but give me a couple days and we'll see what happens...

Speaking of blue flowers....

I didn't give too much info on our beach trip. I plan to write more tomorrow but i will say I had forgotten how much I love the sea. I was surprised how blue the Atlantic ocean looked. Especially in the morning, when the sunlight was filtered through marine haze.

I must have been inspired by that azure hue because not only did I come home and make blue flowers, I bought one too.

I'm not really a souvenir type person, but when I saw this bracelet in the hotel gift shop, it was... just waiting there for me to pick it up... sitting there so pretty in all its flowery-blue goodness.

If happy were a wool-felt flower, or a beaded bracelet, this is what it would look like.

I mentioned that I finished my tea cozy project... Here it is.

No matter how hard I tried, I could not get the picture to show the true color red. in the picture it looks very orangey, but in real life its a beautiful blue-red. Mrs. P. This should be living in your kitchen within the next 5 business days! Hooray!

Well, I would love to sit and chat all day... seriously, I would. But I want to try to make one more flower before this afternoon gets away!

Happy Wednesday!

Brown Paper Packages... delivered by the FedEx Man

Go ahead and sing through My Favorite Things.

That's pretty much my list of favorite things. Except I'm fairly certain I've never had Schnitzel with noodles. But I like noodles, so I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem.

On Friday I received a package. From someone I didn't expect.

I was actually talking to my mom when the package arrived.

I adore packages. And even though it wasn't wrapped in brown paper and tied up in string, it was just as wonderful...something I've wanted for a long time: a new University of Arizona sweatshirt.

I cropped this photo in preservation of my no-make-up-just-home-from-the-gym self.

My brother, Fil, had remembered that I was hoping to get a new sweatshirt while I was there to help during my mom's surgery in January. Life was so moment-by-moment back then, that shopping was not high on my list of priorities.

He not only sent the gift, but wrote the nicest note too....

Honestly, the sweatshirt is nice (really nice!), but those words - some endearing, most meant for laughs - mean the world to me.

I've been wanting to write this post for some time...the one that talks about the two men in my life who happen to be my "little" brothers...but they aren't sappy people who like flowery words.

Fil, Kellie, Daniel
(photo by Silver E Photography)

They still poke fun at me (making fun of my nose, and teasing me incessantly,) and try to bully me (although now they can actually win), and think that they can boss me. But they are good people and I couldn't love them more.

I guess you could say they are two of my favorite things.

So, Fil, thank you for the sweatshirt and the kind words... When I get back home I will give you a proper thank-you punch in the arm with my sharp knuckles.

Things I Do to Make Things Better

The office was warm and inviting.

Soft lighting, soothing music.

It felt...expensive.

For those of you who are just checking in today, I had an Endodontist appointment to look over tooth #19. That's dental speak for the big molar on the bottom left that hurts when you eat.

The visit was short and I'll go back next week for the Big Drill.

The good news (cuz y'all know I like some Good News!) is that I don't have an infection, its merely a fractured tooth.

The bad news is that I still need a root canal.

But let's not talk of such things.

Let's talk about how to deal with stress, shall we?

For the sake of time, and because searching Common Ways People Deal With Stress on Google was depressing, I want to tell you how I handle stress.

On the other hand... let's keep things positive. I won't write about the ineffective ways I deal with stress such as worry, fret, over-exercise, hyperventilating, or (occasionally) crying like a baby when no one is around. I'll just assume you have your own variations on those themes.

Instead, I present Five Helpful (and highly effective) Therapies:

1. Medicinal Noodle Therapy -

Specifically Annie Chun noodle bowls (my faves are the Miso and Udon flavors). I have slurped a bowl every day for lunch more times than I am willing to admit this week.

2. Beneficial Baking -

Today's recipe of choice will be Pumpkin Bread and Peanut Butter cookies, both recipes from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. I've borrowed this book so many times from the library that I recognize my own splattered cookie-dough stains in the margins. I should just go get my own copy...especially since no one knows when the need for Beneficial Baking will strike.

3. Curative Cleaning -

This picture, is supposed to show countertop's that "shine like the top of the Chrysler building." Nothing will smooth down my rough edges quicker than a clean, orderly, shiny, kitchen counter top.

4. Re-wearing Remedy- 

In the picture above is the pair of jeans I have now worn for three days in-a-row. Why? Because jeans fresh out of the dryer are not as comforting as jeans that are soft and broken-in. I assure you, they still look and smell great.

5. The Couch and Cover Corrective with a heaping dose of  Sugar is the Solution 

Technically, these are two solutions that can be used as separate therapies, but they work so beautifully together that it seems counteractive to list them otherwise....

This is my spot on the couch with one of my beloved quilts (I have several and hope to collect more.) Have I mentioned I having a great fondness for quilts? They remind me of Psalm 139:5.

Bunny Trail: I want to tell you that my mother gave that quilt to me, but the truth is that it "accidentally" ended up in our suitcase a few years back...those darn kids. I'll have to talk to them about that.)






I enjoy wrapping up, quilted-burrito style, and eating whatever type of sugar is on the coffee table. The jar to the right is usually filled with peanut m&m's, but during seasonal times I try to mix it up.

Just in case we might run out of "sugar in its purest form", I do have a back-up plan: Sugar in its buttery-caramel form. Amazingly enough, its good for you. It says "made with REAL milk" right on the package. 

So there you have it, Five Helpful (and highly effective) Therapies for relieving stress.

I feel better already.

Baby Shower Fun

I have been a delinquent blog writer (and reader) this week. I have been hard at work preparing for a baby shower for a sweet gal at church. I love parties! And I am especially grateful for the ladies at my church...

As people around town heard about the shower, the guest list grew. Which is really fun, but required the shower to be moved to a different location...one that could accommodate more than 30 people. 

NC Mama gladly offered her home.

Which turns out to be am even BIGGER blessing, as the people in this house are dropping like flies with a nasty head cold.

Then, the ladies at church began to ask what food they could bring. So I showed them my menu, and six ladies took the list and are bringing the food!

Which completely opened up time for me to play with the cake! My inspiration was the pink/brown polka dot invitation that was sent out. Here is a picture of my first try with marshmallow fondant:

Listen, if you have thought about using fondant but haven't because it looks scary, forget it! I used this recipe and tutorial, and it was as easy as pie cake!  I also used this video on how to make bows. 

The roses were made to cover up an accident. Remember last year when I decided to make paper flowers...well, you can use that same technique when making fondant roses. Only when it doesn't turn out just like you want it, you just roll the fondant up, and out, and start all over again!

I cannot wait for The Girls birthday party in February. She is having a Tropical Paradise theme and I am certain I will be making another fondant cake!

La Vida Dulce!

Favorite Things: An Overcast Day

I live in a city that gets a lot of sun. 

According to several online resources, the average days of sunshine per year is between 300 and 350+ .  So when a day like today occurs, we desert dwellers enjoy it. Well, at least this desert dweller does.

When I woke up this morning it was overcast and cool. It's the kind of morning that makes you want to brew an extra pot of coffee and have your friends over for a bite of something homemade. 

It's the kind of morning that whispers ideas of sitting under a blanket and reading all day long. 

It's the kind of morning when I am tempted to skip the gym, the housework, and the correspondence.

Not to avoid people, or places or things. But to enjoy what almost never comes.

I know there are places where this kind of day is the rule, not the exception. I'm not sure I could live in a place with day after day of dark skies. But today, it makes me happy.

Speaking of happy....

I ran out of fiction books to read.  Which is like running out of coffee in this house. I am hesitant to borrow from the library right now because of the move, so I perused my book shelf. I think I am going to start the Mitford series all over again. 

Yes, clouds and Mitford. 

Could it get any better?

Happy day.