Easter is around the corner...

For those of us who celebrate it... and those iconic yellow Peeps are everywhere. They've even shown up in my house. Lots of them. So many of them my Little One even asked why I have so many... How can you not have them? I mean... they are just so.... so.... colorful, and happy... and marshmallow-ie... and what a sugar rush, right?

Now, mind you, while I have them, I have eaten a whopping one of them... so the sugar rush thing isn't as exciting as it could be.

BUT... you know what happens when you mix the Peeps, a little chocolate and some sprinkles? You get the up-graded version.

Since it's close, but this is so darned simple, I thought I'd share...





Using a double boiler, or your microwave (or, like me, stick a bowl on top of any small pan with water gently simmering in it to create your own double boiler), melt your favorite chocolate, white, dark, milk, or any combination of them in a bowl.















While that's melting separate the Peeps and put your favorite sprinkles in a small dish.












When your chocolate is melted, dip the bottom of the Peeps in the chocolate, and then immediately in the sprinkles. Set them aside on waxed paper to allow the chocolate to harden.

Could it be any more simple? And don't forget... you can dip the Peeps bunnies too...








Then, put them into cellophane bags and tie up with lots and lots of ribbons, and add to cute little Easter baskets. Although, I guess you may want to add fewer ribbons if the basket is for a boy.









My niece has two daughters, Carloine and Caitlain. I've only had the pleasure of meeting Caroline once, when she was quite young... but I thought Easter, the time of new beginnings, might be a good time to begin again... besides, I love a good Easter basket filled with all sorts of little girlie things...

Spring is in the air...

Just check out how many of the ArtsyBlogger links this week are talking about it! Come check them out and see how inspired you can be too!






The Uncommon Artist-Laura Thykeson Laura describes two new workshops and gives you a look at one of her other blogs!










Easter Bunny Cupcake Craft With Nutter Butter "bunny" ears. This would be a fun Easter treat to make with the kids!












Beading Arts Cyndi has gotten inspired by Spring Fever! Has that ever happened to you? Do you have some work you'd like to share?


















Green Glass Garden Sculptures It's Spring! Which means Cherie is gluing glass together again! This time she's got green glass (in honor of St. Patty's Day).



















Eileen - The Artful Crafter Sew a cute pin cushion bracelet to keep your pins (literally) on hand.

















Mo(o)re Whimsies Trying New Techniques with Sakura Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers

Going green...

So... sometime in late January my Little One decided she was going to lose some weight. I started making us both lunch to take for our day, and encouraged/supported her as best I could.

Part of her routine was go get up early in the morning and go walking. Like 5:00 am early. I really blundered into this out of motherly concern... my daughter walking in the neighborhood at 5 am, with the dog, who is NO protection, sorta made me feel that I needed to go with her. You know, that whole protective mommy thing. Besides, we all know what an insomniac I am, so it seemed a good idea, I started walking with her.



She was walking about two miles, so I was walking about two miles. Then, she got sick, and just sorta hasn't picked back up on it... me... I added another two miles at night. Luckily, all these steps are being logged in the competition between the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville that is sponsored by the American Heart Association... I always like it when we beat UofL... it's just one of those things... and I'm happy to contribute to it.

Anyway, all of this healthy eating and walking has led to a weight loss. Yeah me! It's also lead me to be much more aware of what, and how, I have been eating. I've been a vegetarian for 20 years now, but I haven't always picked the healthiest choices. Now I am faithfully eating three meals a day, lots of whole grains and healthy veggies. I'm not leaving aside all treats, that just makes life dull, but, I am now being wiser about what I pick as my treat.




Where is all this going? It's going green. Green smoothie green. I've been reading lots and lots of articles and blogs about how yummy and wonderful green smoothies are. Let's be real... how good can something be that is made up hugely of green leafy veggies? And I even love green leafy veggies. But, ugh.

I'm game though. I mean I have everything I need to make one in the fridge, so, why not? What's the worst that can happen? I can toss it down the drain, right? Or, maybe add a good measure of vodka... that would obviously make it work...




Apparently, you can pretty much make smoothies from just about anything. Usually, the proportions are 40% green leafy veggie, such as spinach or kale, and 60% fruits. You can use yogurt...or not. You can add spices... or not. There just don't seem to be too many hard and set rules. Just my sort of thing!

You can see up there in the photo what I used. I wanted something very "fresh", so I went with semi citrusie sort of things. Spinach, a couple of hands full, fresh pineapple (I included the core in the pieces I used), a handful of grapes, a kiwi, a stalk of celery (have no idea why I chose to add that), a few ice cubes, and some orange juice to help it all blend. Tucked it all into the blender and hit a button.

Really green, isn't it? REALLY green.



How did it taste?

You know, surprisingly not like spinach. Even with no vodka added. That one half stalk of celery... that you could taste. I'd leave it out next time.

Overall, it was better than I expected, and, while I was not overwhelmed with how wonderful it was... you won't hear me gushing about how I'm going to convert to having them every day... but, I probably will play around with them, especially through the summer. I did see a recipe that had spinach, tomatoes and fresh basil that seemed like it would be quite tasty... as a cold soup if not a smoothie...

Guess who's back...

Yup... it's him (or her) again. What, third year in a row now I think. Poor baby is a bit pale from winter, but there it is. I so don't like snakes, but I've been expecting him. At least he isn't in the house like the last time we ran into each other.

Oh, and I am too... it's been a week y'all. The Little One announced that she's ready to move out. Mixed feelings, she is the youngest after all... but I'm doing my best to be supportive.

My dad had a set back. He was showing symptoms of a heart attack when I had lunch with him the other day. It was ruled out, but he did spend a few days in the hospital. We went back to our routine yesterday of me going over to visit with him during lunch. I was surprised at how many of the folks were concerned about where I had been. It was really sorta nice to have been missed.

I was still recovering a bit from the week before when I had been so very sick... in other words, I got nothing at all artistic accomplished. But... check out what these very talented folks accomplished...






Mixed Media: I Love How You Love Me Cherie works on a picture inspired by a music lyric.














Eileen - The Artful Crafter Looking for spring and Easter craft projects? The Artful Crafter has something for everyone!









Beading Arts Cyndi finishes up her tutorial for a seed bead rope that features some beautiful lampwork glass beads.














Laura - Taz's Corner
Winning, Painting and Writing




Now, everyone cross your fingers for me that I will actually be able to produce something this week!

What is it about moss...

I cannot walk by moss without wanting to touch it. To savor the depth of color, to see the perfection in its tiny branches. My mind immediately starts to weave a story about how the fairies love to smoosh their toes into the softness.

It's inevitable... this time of the year when the moss is so beautifully lush, I cannot help but want to bring that magic into my house.

This is a perfect way... tiny, sweet, and lets me believe that fairies move in too.








Take an old, or new, votive or small candle holder, a bit of aquarium rock, some dirt, and a handful of carefully gathered moss.

Layer the rock, dirt, then moss in the candle holder. Add a few tiny houses (see how I made mine and how you can make them too here)... and you can bring the magic in too...









And, let's be real... who can't use a little magic in their life?

I hope your weekend has been filled with it.

Lawdie y'all...

As my dear, sweet, yet feisty, Great-Grandmother used to say, "shew, who left the gates of hell open?"

A "bug" hit me last Monday around noon, and took me out for a week. Seriously. Knocked me flat on my behind. I slept all Monday afternoon, barely woke up enough to roll over on Tuesday... tried sooooooooooooooooo hard to work on Wednesday, and made it almost three hours, only to barely make it home defeated. Slept more.

Finally woke around noon on Thursday. Shaky, somewhat dehydrated, and seriously feeling like I'd been run over by a truck.

I'm still not my usual 110%, but goodness I feel better.

I think to celebrate, I'm first going to share a picture of my baby girl with you... she turned 20 this week. On Wednesday. It was a gorgeous day here. Just like the day we brought that little bundle home 20 years before.

She and the dog blew out all 20 of the candles. Well, the dog actually sort of licked one of them out trying to get to the frosting on the cake... but, you know, he was only trying to help.

And, to further celebrate... I think I'll share with you the ArtsyBlogger links for the week. Check out what these gorgeous and talented women have been up to...










(Ok, not only is the painting darned cute, look at that sweet puppy face!)

Mixed Media: Superhero Glasses Cherie paints a girl that looks like a secret superhero.










Eileen has a most worthwhile project going, do please participate! I couldn't help but share this image of one of her cards... it reads... "If life's a beach, where are the cabana boys?" Eileen, I've been asking that question a while now...

Eileen - The Artful Crafter Come join the Card Party at The Artful Crafter and create cards for people with cancer.








Barbara has been busy making cute little lizards... her first post using some new things... see what she thought.

Mo(o)re Whimsies My First Post with Sakura Hobby Craft and Terri Sproul Mixers!






And Cyndi... good gracious, Cyndi has been making magic. She's amazing at everything she tries her hand at, but wow... the time and talent... it's magic...

Beading Arts
Every March, Cyndi celebrates "Seed Bead Month". Do you have some seed bead work you'd like to share?

Me... hopefully, now that I'm feeling better, I'll have a few things to share this week too! (Cross your fingers for me!)

Should you be so inclined...

On Friday, March 3rd, an F-3 tornado hit areas in Menifee and Morgan Counties. Keep in mind, they had been hit by an F-2 on Wednesday. This is where I grew up, and where my family is. At present, the death toll has risen to 7, injuries in the hundreds, and the devastation, well, as you can see... beyond words.

To add more difficulty, today they are waking to about 5 inches of heavy, wet snow.

Looking at Main Street, West Liberty, Kentucky

Downtown West Liberty Kentucky

Hospital, West Liberty, Kentucky (Photos via Allen Bolling)

I know that the blogging community is an amazing and caring one, I thank all of my friends who have been in touch and all of you who have sent up prayers for my friends and family, and everyone else in the area.

For any who may be so inclined, should you wish to donate to help...

Red Cross

The Salvation Army

The Christian Appalachian Project

For all your thoughts, prayers, and donations... from the bottom of my heart... Thank you.

Sunday...

It has been a long week... with some serious difficulties, and a whole lot of learning experiences for me. I've been able to find out that my sister is ok, with relatively little damage considering everything that was happening around her. Where I grew up, not doing so well. Two tornadoes ripping through that little valley in two days has done damage that is simply unimaginable. All of the tornado damage over the last couple of days is beyond comprehension. And after all of that, today we are going to get snow. It's a good day to stay in, gather items to donate, say a great many prayers for those hit, and create some art. My own sort of therapy to soothe my soul I guess.

Before I get started, let me share with you the ArtsyBlogger links for the week...

Mixed Media: Beauitfully Unique
Cherie layers and layers until she gets a result she likes.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
You can make any size envelope with the Crafter's Companion Ultimate crafting tool. Look at how easy it is to "push the envelope".
Beading Arts
Antique keys and lampwork beads are a natural combination...come see how!

Mo(o)re Whimsies
A wonderful Art Book made with Creative Paperclay and Mixed Media Paper!

Taz's Corner
A Look at the Past - Poems and Pictures - Laura takes a look back and shares two original poems

My home town...

I grew up in a tiny, tiny, tiny town in rural eastern Kentucky. Wednesday an F-2 tornado ran through the area creating a good swath of devastation. Luckily, while there was a great deal of damage, no one sustained injury.

Last night, less than 48 hours later, just as darkness fell across the land there were more. The area was wiped out. It's gone. There is nothing but rubble left.

Three are confirmed dead. More than 75 confirmed injured. Those numbers are expected to rise as search teams begin again with the light of the day. Maybe by many.

There is no phone communication in the area, and it is locked down to prevent further deaths in unstable buildings. Or, rather, what is left of the buildings.

These are my people, this is where my family is... this is where I grew up.

It's beyond words.

(AP Photo/ John Flavell)