Hello Muddah Crop Classes and Schedule

Hello there all you lucky campers! Time has come to announce the class line up and a "loose" schedule of our weekend. I wanted to give you a loose schedule so that you know how to plan any "extra curricular" events you have planned on your own. Please note that the classes are "hard times" and that all others are "soft times" and could change if I need to.

Class registration is starting today. To register for class all you have to do is email me with the classes you want to take and then put a check in the mail for the total amount for the classes to me.

THURSDAY
12 pm-Registration begins
1 pm-Lunch is served
3 pm to ??-CLASS; Knitting 101 with Stacey
6 pm-Mocktail Hour & Appetizers
7 pm-Dinner is served
9 pm-Stampin' Up Make-N-Take

FRIDAY
8 am-Morning Nature Walk
9 am-Breakfast is served
10 am-CLASS; Perpetual Calender with Stacey
1 pm-Lunch is served
2-3:30 pm-CLASS; Camping Layout with Lance from Rusty Pickle
4 pm-Afternoon snack is served
4-7 pm-CLASS; Rustic Journey 2 Album with Lance from Rusty Pickle
7 pm-Dinner is served
9 pm-Ghost Stories and/or Sing-A-Long around the campfire

SATURDAY
8 am-Morning Nature Walk
9 am-Breakfast is served
10 am to 1 pm-CLASS; Panama Jack Album with Lance from Rusty Pickle
1 pm-Lunch is served
2-5 pm-CLASS; Way Cool Pop Star Album with Lance from Rusty Pickle
4 pm-Afternoon Snack is served (we will bring it to you if you are in class!)
6-7:30 pm-CLASS; Jungle Love (you can take a dinner break and finish class up after you eat!) with Lance from Rusty Pickle
7 pm-Dinner is served
9 pm-Talent Show (!!)

SUNDAY
9 am-Breakfast is served
11 am-Group Photo taken by Leisa Rice
1 pm-Lunch is served
5 pm-The party's over....



Knitting 101 with Stacey-$10Thursday, 3pm to ??
Beginner knitters will learn how to slip knot, cast-on, knit/purl and bind-off. You will get a demo during the first part of class, then you will be "let loose" to practice and work on your own. Stacey will be available throughout the weekend to work with you one-on-one to help you hone your knitting skills.
Class kit will include a set of knitting needles, yarn and printed instructions.
Students will need to bring scissors and a pen to take notes.

Perpetual Calendar with Stacey-$25 Friday, 10 am to 1 pm
Create an everlasting calendar using the Echo Park's "Life is Good" line. You will cover boxes and decorate with flowers, bling, die cuts, buttons and more. Each box will attach to the board with a magnet. Inside each box you can tuck a slip of paper with special journaling (prompts included) or a treat. You'll make boxes and month toppers in this class. Students can use their own magnetic frame/board & paints or purchase an upgraded "kit" for $25 that will include crackle paint, foam paint brush, clothespins and the magnetic home decor frame.
Students will need to bring along with the basic supply kit, dry adhesive, liquid adhesive, ruler, glue dots, pop dots & black pen with thin, journaling tip.

Camping Layout with Lance from Rusty Pickle-$17Friday, 2-3:30 pm This fun layout is specially sized for our album orientation and is done in browns, greens, rust and mustard. Great colors to compliment our album. Lance will walk us through a pop up tent and fire pit that is super cool! You will love adding this to our weekend album!
Students are asked to bring along with the basic supply kit some brown distressing ink.

Rustic Journey 2 Album with Lance from Rusty Pickle-$40 Friday, 4-7pm The beautiful chip board album takes "altered" to a whole new level. The pages of the album hold tons of creative tags and Lance will walk you through page after page and trick after trick as you create this travel album that you can use for either photos from your latest travels or your favorite "life moments".
Students are asked to bring to class along with the basic supply kit, wet and dry adhesive, red "wonder" tape and brown and black inks.

Panama Jack Album with Lance from Rusty Pickle-$40 Saturday 10am-1pm Lance tells me that this is one of their most popular classes and it is perfect for us Florida folks. This album is full of really cool scrapbooking flips and folds and pop ups. This is the perfect album for your favorite beach photos or from a recent tropical get away. It is done in blues and browns and even has a pop up tiki hut on one of the pages-a real showstopper!
Students are asked to bring to class along with the basic class kit, brown distressing ink.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IErw57gGY3c

Way Cool Pop Star Album with Lance from Rusty Pickle-$40 Saturday 2-5 pm
This has got to be my favorite one! It is so cool...honest! This 12x6 format, ring-bound album with both chipboard and acrylic album pages is done in all black and white with bold graphics and way-cool ayings. With the black and white color scheme you can leave it as is or (like I'll do) add some bright, fun colors! This album is full of the "Lance" touches with pockets & flips. This album would be perfect for a kids, 'tweens or teen album or for an adult "fun" event or friends album. You will be adding your own personal touch through out the album with lots of added embellishments, color and doodling, while creating a practical, yet very "COOL" keepsake. I cannot wait for this one!
Students are asked to bring assorted coloring pens or mediums to class along with a basic class kit.

Jungle Love Mini Album with Lance from Rusty Pickle-$20 Saturday 6-7:30pm (photo in YouTube video below) This mini album is being designed JUST FOR US! I requested a mini album done up in a Valentine's theme using Rusty Pickle's line called Jungle Love and Lance is obliging me! This album will be done in pink, white, black and teal. It is full of fun sayings and all the things we love about the RP style...fun, fun, fun! This little album can hold photos from a special "love-ey" event or just special photos of you and your sweetie(s)!
Students are asked to bring a basic class kit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVGckiC8LB4

OH! And PS! If you have not figured it out yet, Molly our wonderful masseuse will be on hand ALL WEEKEND doing massages. If you are interested please let me know if you prefer a chair or a table massage! Thanks!

Holiday photos/Project Life

Charles and I lovin' the snow. Well, me a bit more than Charles!
Carol enjoys Christmas dinner.
Charles and Luna catch up on some Internet news by the fire.
Charles marvels at the beauty of the lamp that GL made for him for Christmas. It was made from reclaimed lumber from Woodhouse. It was so beautiful and he cannot wait to put it in his office.
We took the girls with us to the Dickens Festival this year. It is so cute to hear people "ooh" and "aah" when we walk by with little Chihuahuas in dog purses. Of course, Charles is a VERY popular dude and these girls in the horse drawn wagon all had to pet Kiwi.


Chopping down our tree this year...Bird nest in tree that we liked, but we couldn't chop that one down, my manly lumberjack & toting the tree back down the hill with a "tree-wheeler".
I can still manage to open up gifts with two sleeping dogs on my lap.
Luna still gets in a bit of hunting during the winter.
The BIG cash prize that we won in the Chango's Christmas Trivia contest! We got first prize...31 whole dollars!
Cornucopias that the toddlers made when I got to do the craft center one day.
The kid's boots all lined up and ready to go at the preschool.
Charles helps me make cookies for the cookie exchange at church. What a camera ham he is!
The girls visit with Santa at the Mansfield Agway.
Sniff...sniff. Charles broke the Chihuahua night light that I made at one of Corning's glass workshops.
I love it when holiday cards start to arrive.
Getting the wood cut for my raised planting beds. I am already dreaming of spring and when I can work in the earth. Oh joy!
Enjoying a spooky cocktail at a cropping party.
Charles and GL clean the front of the pellet stove in the hopes that it'll blow out more heat.
A cool trick in cleaning my sink...dental cleaning tablets. Works perfectly!
Picidilly Cafeteria. One of my all-time favorite-est places to eat. Boy howdy! I miss that place!
I LOVE snowmen!
Opening my birthday gifts from Charles. OH! I got some pretty earrings and a GREAT book on homesteading. Smart hubby!
Stone Crab claws. The first of the season. Do I need to say any more than, "YUM"!?
This is evidence that the bears come VERY close to our house. Here you see the vent for the stove in our bedroom and the corner has been pulled up by the bears. We are sure that it is naughty bears 'cause there are claw marks all around it & the window next to it and snot marks on the window screens. YIKES!!
The cute sign for the Cricut Swarm in St. Petersburg. What a fun bunch of gals!! I am so blessed to be part of that group, even if it is mostly in spirit.
Ann fell asleep after Christmas supper and her most excellent son, Alex, snuck this photo. Too funny!!
The remains of an egg toss at Tamara & Lisa's Halloween party.
CRAZY Nico and the cool marble race track that we built.
Miss Gail with the Secret Santa gift I gave her. It is a box with a monthly coupon book for "A Year of Sweet Treats". Darlene, the preschool owner, took us all out for a lovely dinner at Lamb's Creek.
The excellent spread of Indian food at the Mansfield "Presblutherian" church downtown. It was a GREAT & YUMMY fundraiser.
The earrings that I made for "The Village People" while I was at the October Swarm.
A turkey parade in our side/back yard.
Goodies for the kiddiewinkies in the Toddler room from all of us grown ups.

Recent Holiday Sweets

Have been baking and having a blast. Have had a couple of requests for the recipes, so here y'all go:

Mocha Nut Balls

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1 tbsp. instant coffee
1 cup finely chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
Confectioner's Sugar

In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl combine flour, cocoa and coffee; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts. Roll into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cooking sheet.
Bake at 325 degrees for 14-16 minutes. DO NOT OVER BAKE!! Cool a few minutes on pan. Roll warm cookies in confectioners' sugar and cool completely on wire racks.

Makes 4 1/2 dozen

Fruit Pizza

1 can crescent rolls
Lay flat in pan and bake 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix together and spread on cooled crust.

Assorted fruits (Mandarin oranges, pineapple, sliced apples, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, kiwi slices, bananas, plums, peaches....)

Arrange fruit on top of cream cheese. Or for a kid's party, lay out the plain "pizzas" and bowls of fruit and let the kids add their own favorites!

Open apology to the citizens of Mansfield...

Hello Citizens of Mansfield and Surrounding Areas,

Please consider this my official letter of apology. I am sorry to say that yesterday marked my first day of actual snow driving. Yes, I have been up here for over a year but for most of that time when the weather was bad I was usually the passenger, not the driver. Now that I have a job I am forced to learn how to do this, and quick!

-I am sorry to those of you who were stuck behind me yesterday as I drove home on Rt. 15 going 30 miles per hour.
-I am sorry to the dude with the New York licence plate who felt it necessary to pass me and four other cars stuck behind me.
-I am sorry to a few of you coming up behind me yesterday and today on Mainsburg Road. Those turns and dips freak me out and going 15 miles per hour is all I can handle right now!
-I am sorry to anyone who gets stuck behind me and my Vibe anytime between now and when I get comfortable driving in snow and ice. I plan on sticking to my 30 miles per hour for awhile.

In Florida they drilled a lovely little driving motto into our heads that I am adopting while driving in snow...."ARRIVE ALIVE"!!

Hey! I really am a good driver. The State of Florida stamped it on my driver's licence...'Safe Driver'. I am really good at driving at higher speeds in heavy traffic on 6-lane highways. I can drive great in tropical downpours. I can drive a go-kart around the track on two wheels! I've driven in LA and in downtown DC-both of which are terrible to drive in. And the DC driving was with a hangover. Heck! I've even driven a 47' yacht through the Bermuda Triangle. I'm pretty sure that I'll get the hang of snow driving.

So please, if you see me out there, be kind. Don't honk or give me the finger. Don't curse me under your breath or call me names. Don't tail-gate me or flash your high beams at me. Just drive patiently behind me and know that I am adjusting as fast as I can!