hanging on

I can't believe how these gorgeous leaves are hanging on!!!.....several trees in our neighborhood have completely lost their leaves.....but this maple in front of my house is still beautiful......I'm not an expert or anything....but this has been the most fabulous indian summer I can remember!!!......and the leaves have stayed in their splendor for longer than I can ever remember.......my dad called earlier in the week to see if he could fit in one more Harley ride ....he headed down from Buffalo on Tuesday and Cubby and I met him at McConnells Mill.......it was just a perfect day!!......I NEVER tire of that park.......in every season it is spectacular......and we had it all to ourselves that day.....hope you have been enjoying these warm, sunny days......

score!!!

It was a cupcake day for me yesterday!!!!.....my heart was smiling Sunday when I went scrapbooking all day...and the big smile continued into Monday!!!.....for anyone who knows me I love a "mission"....whether it be for me or someone in need....can't find a size, wrong color, only 2 and I need three.......whatever it is I'm on it!!!!.....I have all Target phone numbers in my black address book for a 60 mile radius of Pittsburgh...I've tracked items down at a TJMaxx in Washington, PA and put on hold for my husband to pick up on his way home from West Virginia...done the same with my Mom's Target in Delray Beach, FL...and likewise for a pair of white jean capris at a Walmart in Buffalo with my Dad....the phone calls explaining these things to the sales girls is always a little crazy while they put these things on hold for me....but I like to think they enjoy helping the crazy girl calling from out of town.....I've sent pictures on my cell phone as well...it doesn't hurt to make sure it's right!....the holidays always seem to bring a huge mission of some sort......the year of the Chat Now phones comes to mind....there were a ton of them....and of course when they hit my kids top 3 of their Christmas list ....not one to be found!!!....anyway, on Sunday on my way scrapbooking I was on a mission to find some particular beads I need....they didn't have them at my Walmart anymore since they switched around our craft dept...which by the way I DON'T like!!!.....I also needed a rhinestone "T" necklace with earrings...all gone @ our Walmart as well...well, on my way through to get the beads, YES! they had them...no on the necklace....I saw these adorable jammie bottoms....not my size though!!...but look at the cute rhinestone iron on I found....I bought that even though they didn't have my size in the jammie bottoms.....I KNEW I would find them!......and one day later I did!!....the happiness I feel is just wonderful!!!......and after I scored on my jammie bottoms I buzzed over to Mimi's bakery to treat myself to a cupcake!! ....it seemed like the logical thing to do!!!...marzipanmom was not in the house....so I'll be back!

heartbreaker

It's over........and it was a heartbreaker....the Chiefs season ended this past Saturday in a 14-6 loss to Pine Richland...we made the playoffs...but another trip to the Superbowl was denied........the boys played hard the whole first half and at half time it was tied 0-0....but the game slipped away and we couldn't get enough points on the board.....we are all so proud of them....they gave us a wonderful season....we were in second place with a 7-2 record.....but the dissapointment is just wrenching.....my guy couldn't hold it in and it was a long ride to Monte Cello's where we met some equally sad players and parents....it's a long season and a lot of dedication and sacrifice by the players, cheerleaders, families and coaches.....and I would like to thank them all for such wonderful memories.

scrapbooking

This is a plaque I got myself at the Shakerwoods craft show a few weeks ago....I have it in my craft room......today my heart is smiling because I got to go on an all day scrapbooking crop!!!!......I've only been to one before.....a soul-sister friend had invited me earlier in the year....and she was thoughtful enough to invite me to the one today at the Scrapbook Station.....



..,.this is all of my stuff ready to go........I have found that in comparision to my friend I bring almost everything I own AND the kitchen sink.....but it's okay for me.....I'm in pretty good shape :) and I can manage to haul it all in one trip...and that's all that matters....the thought of being somewhere and not having what I want freaks me out!.......someday maybe I can walk in with just one little carryall and a plastic case.......but I'm not counting on it!


My friend showed up at our scheduled departure time and we were off!!!!....she goes to crops quite regularly and I am envious of her that she can commit herself to do so.....I am truly going to try and make it more often.....once a month??????......I can never seem to scrap over the summer........and in the fall it's crazy with back to school, football and my Christmas in October week....then it's right into the Halloween festivites......and just these next few weeks I have a small window of opportunity to get a few pages done before the holidays....but come January until school lets out in June, that is my main "season".......I also realize I have many other passions that take up my time and effort as well...and it's a constant struggle for me to try and fit them all in.......knitting, beads, ebay, going to the Y and this lovely blog to name a few......I can only go to bed so late every night!!!......anyway.........the picture above is of our little workspace for the afternoon....I HAD to have a fountain Diet Coke to get the creative thing started!!!......

....which went nicely with the yummy pizzas they served!! yeah!...nothing like a slice to make me smile!.....I was very happy with what I got done today.at the crop...and equally happy with what I did to get ready to go to the crop.....I spent several hours going through umpteen magazines that I have saved to make an idea notebook.....I organized tons of pictures and actually tidied up my craft room a bit, which always makes it more appealing to go into and get to work...and something that I am loving about the whole crop experience is the feedback and ideas that I get from people there.....it is invaluable!!......an added treat that I wasn't expecting!!....I'm hoping this is the jumpstart to many beautiful pages!!!...thanks again dear friend....you are a true scrapbooking inspiration to me!

first snow

Being from Buffalo, N.Y.....this is always a big thing for me!!!....it was just lovely this morning....especially pretty against the back drop of the colorful fall leaves.....these big huge flakes falling down.....there is always something magical about the first snow....silent, white and beautiful.....even if it doesn't stick to the ground and accumulate....you know there will be bigger and better snowfalls to come.....hopefully a big, huge storm!!...there ususally isn't the massive lake effect storms around here that I was used to growing up....but every year I hold out hope that a big one will rip through and we'll all be trapped home for the day....all tucked in cozy and nice, sipping hot cocoa, playing board games and watching it swirl around outside......maybe this year mother nature will treat me to a big snowstorm....or at least a white Christmas!

Make a Smilebox postcard

cheddar corn chowder

My dad and sister were coming for the night this past week and I wanted something warm and comforting to offer them after we got home from the kids activities....hhhmmm...how 'bout some soup!!! :)...I was going to use the roaster chicken in my freezer that jennifer juniper gave me when her power went out to make chicken noodle soup....I got out some cookbooks because believe it or not I've never made it!....and instead I came across this one from the barefoot contessa cookbook...my dear friend Liz gave me two of her books years ago and I treasure them.....this recipe called for fresh corn...and I just so happened to have bags full in my freezer.....remember the post about the corn zipper??....well, everytime I got corn from Deener's this summer I "zipped" a few ears to put in the freezer and have another time.....well, this was the other time!

8 ounces bacon-chopped

1/4 cup good olive oil

3 large onions-chopped

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup flour

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

12 cups chicken stock

5 cups diced white potatoes, unpeeled...about 2 pounds

10 cups corn kernels

2 cups half and half

1 pound sharp white cheddar cheese-grated

In a large stock pot on medium heat cook the bacon and olive oil until the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve. Reduce heat to medium, add the onions and butter to the fat, and cook for 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent. Stir in the flour, salt , pepper and turmeric and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and potatoes, bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. If using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cobs and blanch the kernels for 3 minutes in boiling salted water. Drain. Add the corn to the soup, then add the half and half and cheddar. Cook for 5 more minutes, until cheese is melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot with a garnish of bacon.