Coming Soon and a freebie

Holiday weekend beginning with lots going on in local area, patriotic events, musical venues, and high school graduations. One of the graduates at King's Fork H. S. is my God-child, Rachel, who is graduating with honors and preparing to enter Old Dominion University in the fall. Raci (my husband's nickname for her - all the children have nicknames he created when they were born) is adorable: cute as she can be, intelligent, curious, and I could go on. I'm one proud aunt lol. Here is a snapshot of Raci during prom scrapped to a mask I'm experimenting with:

Today I managed to somehow lose the volume control in my start up panel and when I went looking for it, I found a volumne control for my audio card. Upon trying it was told I have no audio! Most irksome since I had some meditation tracks I want to listen to. Must call BIL this weekend and get his advice on this because I need all the serenity I can get right now. Have another outbreak of shingles! Dad says it's 'cause I'm stressed out with all this gallbladder disease. I'm still at work on a kit from Wonderland which I'm calling Serenity. It's a little bit inspired by my recent meditation experience and by colors I find soothing. I'm also working on a summer challenge which I hope to start sharing here on June 1.

Meanwhile, here's a simple mask inspired by Serenity for you.

Pick it up here: http://www.4shared.com/zip/u03lCXYoce/ss4cu_serene_mask.html? Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Miserable but working - & freebie

It's been days, I know. But I've been miserable health wise with additional complications. Oh well. Anyway, I've been working a little on several things, including a new kit. Had pretty much convinced myself to give up making kits but got hooked by a color scheme and idea and can't seem to decide if I'm finished or not. I started with a swatch that included a coral and while it does indeed work fine with turquoise or blue greens, I just wasn't pleased with it over all. The one stacked paper I made where the coral color was prominent seems just too orange for me. Still, I don't think the paper is bad (& indeed there will be a different color version of it in kit or add on), some people do like orange and maybe someone can use this? Here you go:

You will find it here: http://www.4shared.com/zip/R5-Fn0z7ba/ss4cu_stackedpaper_free5-22.html? Hugs!

Friends Forever final zip (6)

http://www.4shared.com/zip/faDEvw0Dce/WS_FriendsForever_papers_5.html? You should have all 6 zips now. Enjoy!

Friends Forever Zip 5

http://www.4shared.com/zip/DXAR3Lxwce/WS_FriendsForever_papers_4.html?

Chicken Delight

Taking a moment between loads of laundry to write about my recipe experiment. Several people wrote and asked me to share if the recipe turned out well. I'm going to give you the original recipe as I found it in an old telephone company cookbook, in case you want to try it as written. Let me do that first:

Chicken Delight from Bell's Best Cookbook recipe from Louie Elizabeth Dodds 1 stick oleo, melted [margarine] 1 (8 oz.) pkg.seasoned corn bread Stove Top stuffing mix 1 c. water Mix lightly. Put 1/2 mixture in 12x8 inch casserole dish. Mix: 2 1/2 c. chopped, cooked chicken 1/2 c. chopped onion 1/2 c. chopped celery 1/2 c. mayonnaise 3/4 tsp. salt. When this is mixed, pour overmixture in casserole. Beat 2 eggs, add 1 1/2 c. milk and pour over mixture in casserole. Add other 1/2 bread mixture,. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. Take out 1 hour before baking. and spread 1 can mushroom soup on top. Bake uncovered in 325 degree oven for 45 minutes.

[Notes: I don't like the way recipe is laid out (not that you can tell with way blogspot squishes stuff together). Don't like cornbread stuffing so will substitute. This filling looks like chicken salad! I will omit mayonnaise and add the celery and onions to stuffing mix. Seems like there is going to be too much moisture what with water, eggs, milk, then soup. Will adjust so I don't end up with mush.]

Sherry's Chicken Delight (see notes following) Ingredients: 1 stick margarine, melted 1 (8 oz.) pkg. regular Stove Top stuffing mix 1 c. water 1/2 c. chopped onion 1/2 c. chopped celery *** 2 1/2 c. chopped, cooked chicken fresh sliced mushrooms (approx. 1/2 of 8 oz. pkg.) *** 1 egg, beated with 1/2 c. milk *** 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1) Mix together first 5 ingredients (those above first *). Press half of misture into 12 x 8 inch casserole dish. 2) Over mixture in casserole dish, sprinkle chopped chicken and add mushrooms. 3) Evenly pour the egg and milk mixture over the casserole. 4) Cover with foli and refrigerate overnight. 5) Remove from refrigerator an hour before baking. 6) Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 7) Spoon the undiluted mushroom soup over the casserole. (Rather like frosting it). 8) Place uncovered casserole in oven and bake approximately 45 minutes. Notes: This turned out very moist and flavorful. Not sure what the egg and milk are supposed to do and think they can be omitted. Next time I will chop chicken smaller. I will mix the chicken with miushrooms and either frozen peas or small pieces of brocolli fleurets for filling between breading layers. Also didn't care for having the soup on top and will spoon that over chicken and veggie mix before adding last breading mixture so that breading will get a little crunchy on top.

Overall impression? My husband is a very good cook and he commented on the nice way this smelled. Even better, he asked for seconds and licked his bowl clean, calling this "comfort food." If you try it, please let me know what you think and about any modifications you try. Maybe we ought to start a weekly share a recipe column? I'd offer something and anyone who writes in offering a recipe will have their recipe shared here too? Back to chores. Hugs!

Friends Forever zip 4

http://www.4shared.com/zip/pzpZnJ5Rce/WS_FriendsForever_papers_3.html?

Quick check-in

Just wanted to drop by quickly and thank the lovely ladies who left reassuring comments and prayers for my health. Had a pretty good but tiring day today. My son and his girlfriend stopped by this morning on their way down from PA, headed to Outer Banks. Just a few hours but a good time to catch up on what's been happening. Went out to Bruegger;s Bagels for breakfast sandwiches which surprisingly went down okay today. Then Berkeley (Jeremy's girl) saw there was a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts just down the road. They were really craving a KK since they don't have them up where they live, not even the pre-packaged ones. So we topped off breakfast with a doughnut. Both my "babies" are doing well and I'm hoping they have a nice little vacation. Jeremy has gotten back into doing art projects again and made me something for Mother's Day. I'll have to take a pic and show you. I just finished making up a chicken casserole recipe I've not tried before. It requires you to make it up, refrigerate overnight, then take out an hour before baking, top with one last ingredient and once baked, you've got dinner. I adjusted the recipe a bit since it sounded like it was going to be too wet. Will let you know if it's good and share recipe which is from an old telephone company (as in Old Ma Bell company) cookbook. Most recipes I've tried from this book, which is now falling apart, have been good. Exhausted now so off to sleep. Hugs!

Zip 3 Friends Forever

http://www.4shared.com/zip/EZ83RUAJce/WS_FriendsForever_papers_2.html?

Zip 2 free kit Friends Forever

http://www.4shared.com/zip/1xP-bA8yba/WS_FriendsForever_papers_1.html?

So now I know . . . and free kit

So now I know that some of the pain I've been having in upper right torso is not related to bronchitis. Went for ultrasound and have "abnormal gallbladder" aka I've got gallstones. My primary doctor wanted me to see a surgeon. Sure, gallbladder removal is most frequent surgery done and with laproscopic option, it's a quick procedure and quick recovery. I've been in pain for weeks so I'm ready. But appointment with gastroenterologist isn't until June 30 and that's the consult! But I'm on stand by list for any cancellation. And that's why I haven't been at computer much. Now I'll stop complaining. I do have a kit loaded to 4shared for you though. It's called Friends Forever and was done for a Starving Artist challenge a while back. There are 6 zips, so you will get the first tonight. Here is the preview:

Pick up here: http://search.4shared.com/postDownload/qXVLbw2yce/WS_FriendsForever_elements.html 5 more zips over next 4 days. I'll set them up ahead of time in case I get called away. Hugs!

Happy Mother's Day! - freebie for you

About ready to call it a night so wanted to stop first and wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day for tomorrow. Here is a little gift for you:

http://www.4shared.com/zip/3hlSBed_ce/ss4cu_momdayfreebie2014.html?

Papers 2 for Mother's Day free kit

Link: http://www.4shared.com/zip/0ggBLEYHba/WS_AMothersLove_papers_2.html?

Papers 1 for Mother's Day kit

Another day is over and I didn't get much done today. Paid bills and updated checkbook, then got the bright idea that since it was a nice day, I should go outside and trim the rosemary. Last spring or one before I'd bought a small rosemary plant - around the same time we got a few more azaleas for front flowerbed. We had a guy doing yardwork whom my husband had hired because he knew the man needed money. He wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, but I do appreciate my hubby's good heart. Anyway, we asked the man to plant the new azaleas and also asked him to plant the rosemary at a location in backyard. The rosemary ended up planted to the side of the front porch and we left it there, never imagining how fast it would grow and in any weather! It desperately needs another trimming, or rather, this time a serious pruning back. So, armed with just the kitchen shears, I went out to trim it. Took a large colander with me to hold the trimmed rosemary to process for use. Filled that thing to overflowing and called it enough, not because the plant was cut back enough but because some of the branches have grown too woody for kitchen shears. Washed all the rosemary and laid it out on a towel on top of stove (it's one of those flat glass ones) to dry. Didn't get any farther until a few minutes ago because I had bad nausea later in the afternoon. So, I just striped rosemary branches for a long time. Once done, I had fingers nasty with sap and chlorophil. Took 3 washes with Dr Bonner's liquid soap to get clean and my hands still smell like rosemary, now with a hint of lavender. Tomorrow I'll set some of the rosemary aside to dry and store for cooking and I'll make a rosemary hair rinse with some of what's left. When I go to hospital on Friday for ultrasound, I'll take along a baggie full for a friend who works there. And that was my exciting day lol.

Now, here is the first link to papers for yesterday's kit: http://www.4shared.com/zip/krbzJ9rrba/WS_AMothersLove_papers_1.html? Enjoy!

Retired kit freebie

Haven't blogged for a couple days (?) have been out to doctor appointments, errands and such and also catching up and finishing the meditation challenge. On the medical front, lungs are now clear. Had walk test today and had 95% pulse -oxygen which is great. Also learned my blood pressure, which is good anyway, had come down 10 points and I'd lost 4 pounds without trying. Hmm, meditation? Unfortunately, I look like I've gained weight with this bloating. Have the ultrasound for gallbladder Friday morning. Went through this once before years ago and no stones were found so nothing was done. But that was a very painful but short "attack." I hope they can get it right this time. I know even the laproscopic surgery is no picnic, but I just want to get it taken care of and move on.

I've got a Mother's day kit for you. Here is the zip for the elements: http://www.4shared.com/zip/PQmO4SLgce/WS_AMothersLove_elements.html? Zips for papers to come.

International Scrapbook Day In Store Freebie

Find it at Digi Style Designs http://digistyledesigns.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_207&products_id=13397

Retired Kit for free & other May CAK pieces

Guess what? I must be falling apart altogether because yesterday doc told me the pain I've had a couple weeks, thinking it was due to the bronchitis (which is better) is most likely a gallbladder attack. Blood tests done and ultrasound being scheduled. Meanwhile, I'm trying to go about usual business. Recently retired a bunch of Wonderland kits and will begin giving them out as freebies. Today's freebie will be a full size mini kit called April Showers.

Here are the links: http://www.4shared.com/zip/BQvd-Zn4ba/WS_aprilshowers_elements.html? http://www.4shared.com/zip/nIKaBkDFce/WS_aprilshowers_papers_1.html? http://www.4shared.com/zip/Fk-EoQeCce/WS_aprilshowers_2.html? A couple of Wonderland products for the May CAK are in now:

Got to get back to finishing dinner. Hugs!