A New Layout for you...

Thought I would share with you all a layout I completed yesterday. This is my nephew Zeb, and I love the black/white/baby blue colors. I am trying to use up a lot of my stash
a. because I cannot afford new paper, and I have a ton here already
b. because I have looked and looked online and cannot find any patterned paper I like! I am serious! Either everything is sold out, or I can't get a good look at it-times like this I wish I had a good, big LSS closeby so I could buy paper in person!! If anyone has any good paper line recommendations, or any good reputable paper websites leave it in my comment sections!
I must admit, I am very much liking alot of the new SU! patterned paper in the new catalog and Holiday mini, along with the rub ons from both catalogs. They really seem to be stepping it up for the scrapbookers!
The black and white stripes/asterisks paper is Doodlebug. Black and white text paper is DCWV.
Textured cardstock is SU! Bashful Blue. I cut the black felt asterisks with the Cuttlebug. The chipboard letters/tab were originally brown, but I painted them black.
I used SU! Round tab punch, circle punch and scalloped circle punch. Flower stamp for journaling block is SU! Cool Cat, and Sweetie sentiment is from Purple Onion Designs. White zig zags are rubons, as is the black arrow. White straight stitches are Uniball Signo White Gel Pen. White lettering is Chatterbox Rubons. A little bit of everything, it is nice to use up some of my endless stash of rubons and paper!!
Thanks for looking, and have a great Sunday,
Keri

Another Brodie Video...

Can you stand any more of my dogs?? We took Brodie out back to the river last night, to play some fetch with her tennis ball. I brought the shampoo and conditioner along to see if I could squeeze in a bath while we were at it. I let her play for a bit, washed her up, then let her play some more to rinse her off. The river is right behind the house, I have a gorgeous view from my kitchen window. It is the English River. She was so nice and fluffy last night!
Here is Brodie Blue emptying the river of some of it's water!
Have a great night,
Kerilou

Photo Gallery Wednesday...

I took a BUNCH of photos yesterday. Some of them nice, some just comical! As I have shared here before, Harley HATES getting her picture taken. She associates the flash with a thunder and lightening storm, and as soon as she hears the click of the "on" button, she turns tail (well, she doesn't HAVE a tail actually) and runs. So, long ago, I gave up trying to take her picture. Just not worth her getting all worked up and drooly, especially at her age. Well, after Peter got home yesterday, I took the dogs out to meet him. We do it every day. They run around and goof off. Harley got her eye on a chipmunk hole right by our steps. I *think* it is abandoned-I haven't seen a chipmunk around all summer! She obviously smelled something, cause she camped out by this hole, and would not leave! She would sit, and stare down at it. Then she would lay down and perch herself at the opening. Then she would get back up and stick her nose down in the hole. It was so funny! I mentioned to Pete that it would be funny to get a photo-never thinking I would succeed! I went in the house and grabbed the camera and turned it on before I returned outside. Ya know, Harley was so preoccupied and so glued to that hole, that I actually got to take a few pictures of her! It killed her, knowing what I was doing, but not enough to make her get up and leave! LOL! So here are a few pics of Harley, the almost non existant dog on A Country Life!







And of course, for good measure, Brodie got in on the action. My problem with her is, that she doesn't SIT STILL long enough for me to take a photograph! She is one wild chick. Here she is smelling the bee balm--I see this one in a scrapbook page!!

Here she is standing still--a rare occurance...


I also took my first photos of my sunflower patch. I like to plant sunflowers, one of my favorite flowers, every year. Peter made me a patch out of old telephone poles years ago, and it is right along the roadside so people can see them from their cars.




This year, we have a pumpkin patch! Cody usually has one every year, but we failed to have one last year. Believe it or not, we had a frost warning here in the Adirondacks last night, so I don't know what we will find when I go outside this morning. My morning glories look okay, but they are close to the house. The pumpking patch is out in the middle of a field. They might not have fared so well. So, because our growing season is so short, we have to do everything we can to help the pumpkins out. We did see this on TV-it is not my idea, just so you know. We go out and locate all the "male" blossoms and "female" blossoms and we pollinate them! Just in case the bees didn't make it to our patch, it's a little extra insurance. We call it pumpkin s*x. Hey-it works! So here are a few photos from our patch.
Here Peter is demonstrating the x rated technique...
Here is a baby pumpkin we spotted:
This is what the female blossom looks like before it opens. See the tiny pumpkin? If the blossom is pollinated, it will fall off and the pumpkin will continue to grow!
Here Peter is making sure we got all the blossoms, and also looking for more pumpkins already growing.
Inside of a female blossom...


And of course a couple more doggie and Daddy ones to send you off...she loves to see him come home at night!

Have a great night!

**Keri**

An Update and a Purple Onion CASE!

Good Tuesday morning! I want to start out by saying a HUGE thank you for all the kind words, well wishes and prayers for Omi. I am happy to say that she is improving daily! She is working with the physical therapist, and even with a fractured pelvis, is able to get up out of bed, and sit in her wheelchair and her lift recliner. Mom has a patient care meeting tomorrow afternoon, and we will see what happens! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! XO
Thanks also for all the great comments on my new craft room. I am so enjoying it! And for the record, the chalkboard was painted on, NOT STOLEN in the depths of the night. LOL
I was visiting the Purple Onion Designs blog the other day, while trying to get moved into my new room, and at the same time, trying to get ready to go to a crafting event at my church. I had nothing ready, and no idea what to work on, that wouldnt' take a lot of forethought and preparation!
Michele had just posted these great cards, so simple, but so cute! I decided to take her idea and with it. Click here to see what Michele did
And here is my interpretation.
I Cuttlebug'd the background of some of them, also prohibiting me from stamping a sentiment on the front of those examples. I also used scalloped squares as well as scalloped circles, just to see what I liked better. The patterned paper is just scraps I had lying around. I used the MCP technique to color in the stamped images, and went over them with a Clear Stardust Pen before covering them with SU! Crystal Effects..
They are pretty cute! I made half a dozen of each, so I can stock my card rack, and grab one if I need it!
Thanks for visiting!
Kerilou

My New Craft Room.....

Well, my summer project is finally done, without much time to spare! This room is downstairs is our house. When my Grandma (Omi) lived here, this was her bedroom. When we bought the house and moved in, Cody was 3, so at first it held a lot of boxes, then it was turned into his playroom. He literally *never* used it to play in. It more like STORED his toys. He would go in, make a huge mess, find what he wanted and take it out to the livingroom to play with. Then I would bug him for days or weeks to pick up his toys, and put them away. When he would, they would land in a pile, and I would bi-annually dig this room out and re organize. Well, needless to say, I had had ENOUGH! As soon as school was out, I started sorting, and moving things out. The crib that I had for daycare was given back to my Mom, and the toys were sorted and moved to their temporary home in the livingroom. I intended to store what Cody still wanted to keep out, in the room I used as a craft room upstairs, but it was still full of my scrap stuff until we got this room all painted and ready to move into. See my quandry? So after camp, I finally buckled down, and got the rest of the room emptied out. All those tiny little pieces and parts, packaging, scrap paper, broken crayons, etc. What a mess!! Peter then painted the remaining walls white (we had already painted one with chalkboard paint, and some white years ago) and I was responsible for painting the shelving and bins. Needless to say, I should be kept AWAY from the paint. I have never been a good, or neat painter. I can paint the spots on a ladybug, but can't paint the broad side of a barn. Seriously. Peter painted several walls and didn't get a spot of paint on him. I had painted for 5 minutes and I was covered!
I finally got everything back in order, and moved my supplies down on Friday. I always called my room upstairs, the Scrap Cave. I gotta say, I think I need a new name, cause this room is much roomier, and a lot brighter! I sorted out a lot of stuff that I no longer wanted, and now everything is clean, and organized in my new area! Let me take you on a tour::
This is the little jut-out wall that faces you as you enter. The artwork is center stage, a gift from my lovely cyber-friend, Annie. I am so excited to be able to display this in a nice area, not surrounded by turkey tails...(don't ask)

As you walk in past the jut out, you see the two closets. (hence the jut) One is for coats, one is extra storage for me! It has several shelves in it.
This is the chalkboard wall that I decided to keep from when Cody had the room. Peter helped me put up a few things, but I can still write on it if need be.
The entertainment center was Omi's. It is made to fit in a corner. I put some photos and past creations on top of it. And of course, my work station under the window!
Another corner....
This is the shelving unit Peter built for Cody's toys back in the day. It was raw plywood, but I painted it white. Turned out good!
These are in infamous ink pad holders my uncle made me to mimic the DVD holders everyone was getting at Ikea. He made me 10, so I still have room to grow!
A closer look at the shelves. My SU! stamps have more room, the crates are cardstock, and down at the bottom, the crates are filled with all my Purple Onion and Buzz and Bloom goodies! I know, nothing matches, but I don't care!!
My workstation...Peter brought this table home from a job site just after we were married. The place was getting rid of it. *HE* thought it would be great for meat cutting during hunting season. SHEYA...
Here is my card rack from last years yard sale. It had been in my upstairs hallway. Now it has a home!
My ribbon shelves, made out of old rain gutter scraps.
Here is a shot of the floor. This floor downstairs, and the whole upstairs, are these original 1910 wide boards. Give it some character!
So, that is a tour! Bits and pieces from here and there, but I love how it came out. I am thinking about stamping a few butterflies on the walls. Thanks for looking and sharing in my excitement!!

Keri

Sad News...

We got a call yesterday morning, that Grandma Omi took a fall in the nursing home. This is not the first time she has fallen. One other time she was banged up pretty bad, two other times she suffered severe skin lacerations, once on her head, once on her forearm. Ya see, she suffered a stroke, and even though she can't talk now, she didn't suffer any paralysis. She is not all that light on her feet anymore, though, but she forgets and tries to get up. And falls....every time! After the first few times it happened, and the nursing home staff kept insisting that they could not restrain her, my Mom looked into it more and they did concede and give her a buddy cushion. Basically, it is a cushion that sits across her lap in her wheelchair, and has grooves cut out of the ends of it, that fit around the arms of the wheelchair, allowing Grandma to sit comfortably and scoot around, without being able to get up and fall. It has worked well for a year and a half. Unfortunately, a worker at the home saw someone else with a need for the buddy cushion and took it from Omi. They gave her a different one, that was made to fit a wider wheelchair, and Grandma took it off cause it didn't fit correctly, got up, and fell.
Omi has a broken left wrist, and a broken pelvis. Cody and I went with Mom to see her today. My heart is just breaking for her. She is almost 88, so frail, and so sick of being like this. Apparently, a person from the nursing home has been suspended, but rest assured, Mom had them quaking in their boots today. They are pretty meek today at the nursing home. This need not have happened!! I ask you to please remember Omi by lifting her up in prayer. She cannot talk, and her being able to feel the love of Christ would give her some comfort. It was so hard to leave her there today, she looks so tiny, frail, and defeated in that bed.
Here is a pic of Grandma Omi (Naomi) before her stroke:

Buzz and Bloom--New Project!!

My latest project is up over at the Buzz and Bloom blog. Click here to check it out. Here is a little teaser::

Fishing Trip!

Good Morning! Before I head to church, I thought I would share with you my pictures from last night's fishing trip! Peter and Cody took off up river after their day in the woods, tackle box, poles, and worms in hand. After several hours, they returned with quite a catch! 8 altogether, 2 for Peter, 6 for Cody. Now we have enough in the freezer for a real feed. For Daddy, Peter, and Cody that is. Mom and I agreed that we would forego the trout for something else. Now I just have to figure out how to cook these things?! Aren't my boys cute?



Have a Blessed Sunday, everyone!
**Keri**

Streusel Topped Blueberry Muffins

Good Saturday morning! Hope everyone is having a divine weekend so far! The sun is shining and the sky is blue-which is more than I can say for the past 3 weeks!
My mother in law sent home a big dish of blueberries for us a while ago. I had been meaning to make muffins-and finally got to it yesterday. I pulled out a bunch of recipes I had printed off the net a couple years ago, and chose the one that looked the best. Like I said-not my original or family recipe, but it will be my family one from now on! Let me also add that I do things kind of old fashioned. I don't have a KitchenAid mixer..Just a hand mixer, when I use it! I use my great old enamel bowls for EVERYTHING, and everything in my kitchen is pretty much mix and match. But everything still turns out great!
Blueberry Steusel Muffins
INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
3 cups blueberries

Streusel Topping
all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, chilled


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt.
Stir the flour mixture into egg mixture alternately with milk. Fold in blueberries. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle topping over unbaked muffins.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

**This is a large recipe. I got 3 dozen regular sized muffins. I had about 3 1/2 cups of blueberries, and I threw them all in, so there is almost more berry than muffin, but oh, are they good! THe berries were of the very large variety. I don't know where she picked them, but they were huge! The crumb topping was nice and crunchy, and the muffins perfectly browned. Two thumbs up!**

Have a great Saturday, everyone! Peter and Cody are going into the woods for the day, so I am on my own. My top goal is to get the rest of what used to be Cody's play room emptied out of toys, so I can prep it to paint. It is going to be my new scrapbook room! This needs to be done in the next 2 and a half weeks before my daycare kids come back for the year! The contents of the toy room are currently residing in my livingroom, until the scrapbook room upstairs is emptied and I can move everything up there! Follow? Have a good one!
**Keri**

Birthday Wishes..

Good Friday morning! I never got to post yesterday! I actually worked yesterday,and my legs and feet ached so bad that I didn't get much done after that! The weather is supposed to be really nice, so there will probably be a lot of wood cutting going on here! Fall will be here before we know it.
I just *have* to share this link with you all. This has to be the coolest thing I have seen in a long time! Click here to see the John Deere birthday cake!

Below is a pic that Cody took of me and Miss Brodie Blue. See? No hard feelings about the fat lip! She loves to hang out with me at night in front of the TV. Once she settles down, that is!

My niece Sabrina has a birthday coming up! Her party is Sunday afternoon, so I made this card for her last night! SU! Sweet Treats is one of my all time favorite stamp sets. That cake stamp is so cute! This card follows Sketch Challenge 188, and Color Combo Challenge 138. Recipe follows!
Stamps: SU! Sweet Treats, SU! Linen Background, Purple Onion Designs sentiment

Ink: SU! So Saffron, Staz On, Jet Black

Cardstock:SU! So Saffron, SU! Real Red, SU! Tempting Turquoise, GP White

Cuttlebug Happy Birthday embossing folder, SU! Round Tab Punch

Ribbon-Michael's

Adhesive-Mono Multi Liquid Glue

Image was colored using Prismacolors, Windsor and Newton Sansador and blending stumps.

Clear Glaze Pen for Candle Flames, and Clear Stardust Pen for stamp outline.

**I went over the entire stamped image's black lines with the stardust pen. It is not visible from the image shown here, but it really gives it a shine in the light!**

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great Friday!

**Keri**

Brodie Acrobat...

I was outside today with the grand idea of getting some photos of the dogs and my flowers. Harley didn't cooperate, as usual, and Brodie gave me a fat lip with her rock hard melon head while I was down on the yard taking a pic of the balloon flower. I managed to put my top teeth through my bottom lip and blood was everywhere! It is a good thing she is cute! Cody gave me comfort and first aid, and we decided to shoot some video of Brodie up to her usual antics. If you have the sound on, you will hear my fat lipped lame attempt at laughter when Brodie did her loop de loop in the driveway. Cody says it sounds like a car starting. Just remember, I am injured...so no picking!!



For good measure, here is the lovely shot I got of my balloon flower just seconds before the dreaded head butt. I never noticed how cool the inside of the bloom looked until I looked at the photo after I loaded it on my laptop!



Have a great Wednesday night!
**Keri**

Picture Show

I took a walk last night, and brought the camera along. Here a few things that caught my eye!
This hydrangea has to be one of my favorite flowers EVER! The color is so gorgeous! A blog header would look great with this photo...maybe if I get bored later??

The bees were swarming around the bee balm yesterday...Big shocker, right? Anyway, there were so many bees that it was difficult to get close enough without the bees landing on my hands and wrists, but I managed to get this one of a bee in mid flight.
Cody came along with me on my walk. He rode his bike-and he always has to be out ahead of me. He is getting so big and grown up-kinda made me melancholy for those days when he was little. When I saw him out ahead on his own I thought it was kind of symbolic of him heading into the future. He looks so tiny!
We are off to get haircuts this morning. We are both way overdue! We'll see how much blue is left on Code's head when we get home!! He had quite a bit of brown in his roots and the blue is not vibrant any more, so I am so anxious for him to get it cut!! Later!!

**keri**

Hello, Monday!

Hello there! We are officially moved home from camp. We came home a day early, so last night I slept in my own bed! Everything is still in piles here and there waiting to be put away, and I am slowly wading through all the stuff, but it is good to be home. The laundry didn't pile up too bad in my absence, so that is one bonus! Give me a week and I will be back to normal! I got my new Fall/Winter SU! Idea book and Catalog today. There wasn't a lot I was excited about (thank goodness!) I did like the new stripes background stamp. Several of the new rub ons are great, Word Flurries, Chills and Thrills, and Chit Chat will be on my wishlist. A few of the new In Colors are pretty, too! Thought I would share Cody's latest photo of Brodie-she likes to hide under the end stand in the livingroom-so cute!

Have a good Monday evening..

**Keri**

Camp Update...

Hello from camp! It finally stopped raining long enough to take a picture of our camp, along with a couple more photos of special things in the past week! This is a gorgeous Amish made basket I was given for volunteering my evenings scooping GALLONS of ice cream at the snack bar here on the campgrounds. A 4 year old boy made this basket! He signed the bottom-you can see it below...what a treasure!



This was the fabulous party favor I got at my cousin's baby shower last Sunday. Isn't it darling? My stunning Auntie made homemade peppermint patties to fill each box. They were divine!! They were as big and thick as oreo cookies!!

Last but not least, here is our lot at camp. The building on the left is the cottage my mother in law was getting rid of and gave us, if we wanted it. We moved it in two pieces, and had to re assemble the roof. It was a lot more work than we anticipated. It has a full bathroom on the end, and the main room has a futon, and a set of bunks. Cody has taken up residence in the cottage.

Camp has been wonderful so far. I will be here until Monday morning, when I pack up and move back home. The rain has been a trial, but it is nice to sit back and read and relax a bit. See you soon!

**Keri**