Thursday, May 8, 2014

my kind of hero

This week we will attend the funeral of two wonderful men, hero's.  They died in the line of duty.  They were serving the people they loved and one of them took both their lives.

Some people understand their sacrifices.  Some people are even grateful for what these men do.  To them I am grateful.

The other day my husband was driving home from court in his trooper car and a man running slowed down, stopped, turned, and saluted him as he drove by.  That man "gets" it.


This saying is posted outside of the Alaska State Trooper Academy in Sitka.  It is one of my husbands favorite sayings at times like these it brings him peace.

Monday, May 5, 2014

diy post card swap

iHanna does a post card swap every year.  I just heard about it this year and joined in.  I have been involved in other kinds of swaps that you generally are only sending to one person.  This one I made 10 post cards to send out and I will receive 10 post cards.  How fun is that?!

First I dabbed paint on the cards and took a brayer roller over the top to make the backgrounds.

Then I drew on the pages of an old book.  Cut them out.  Ran them through the Xryon sticker maker

Applied watercolor to the images and attached them to the post cards. 

I use pens to outline the images.

Lastly I Mod Podged the surface.

Finished. 

Hot Niçoise Salad



  1. 1/2 pound green beans
  2. 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
  3. 1/2 cup pitted Niçoise olives (3 ounces)
  4. 1 cup roasted red or yellow bell peppers, cut into strips
  5. Two 2-ounce cans flat anchovies packed in olive oil, drained and chopped
  6. 1/2 cup torn basil leaves
  7. 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  8. Salt and freshly ground pepper
  9. Four 6-ounce, 1-inch-thick tuna steaks
  10. 4 large eggs
  11. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Put the beans in a steamer basket and steam over 1 inch of boiling water until crisp-tender, 4 minutes; transfer to a large roasting pan.
  2. Lightly squeeze the tomatoes and add to the pan. Add the olives, bell pepper, anchovies and basil, toss with 1/4 cup of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Brush the tuna steaks with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Set the tuna on the vegetables. Nestle 4 ramekins among the vegetables and crack an egg into each ramekin. Drizzle the eggs with 1 tablespoon of the oil and season with salt and pepper
  3. Roast the tuna, vegetables and eggs in the center of the oven for 15 minutes, until the fish is slightly rare in the center and the egg whites are set, but the yolks are still runny.
  4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the remaining 1/4 cup of oil with the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables and tuna steaks. Transfer to plates and serve immediately.   

I found this recipe in the My Father's Daughter by Gwyneth Paltrow.  This was something I will make again it was so delicious.  

Friday, May 2, 2014

It's Friday and I'm Obsessed

1. Goodreads the app and the website. I really like how it keeps me focused on my reading goals.

2.  The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters.  I love it almost as much as I love My Father's Daughter by Gweneth Paltrow.

3. Derwent Inktense Pencils....they have really turned my art journal pages to a new level.

4.  Pringle Hill Studio Youtube videos.  She is wonderful.

5. SELPHY CP910 iPhone printer.  I am having so much fun with this little printer. 


Thursday, May 1, 2014

April -- Month in Review

I sit down this morning with a mug full of yumminess (NOT A real word, I know), and I look back at this month.  I have goals achieved and goals that I did not complete.  I somehow always count those as a success.  I tried.  That is a success in itself.

*My 365....still in tact.  Another month down.

*I completed 27 days of my 30 day goal for blogging in April.  Next year I will try to do better.  I learned a lot of doing this and might try it again this year. 

*Reading two books each month.  I have read Daddy Long Legs, by Jean Webster and Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

*Riding my bike almost everyday.  I love my bike. 

*I have completed each challenge for the DLP. 

*I have taken a shot for the 52 weeks of me but not all of the prompts for the NOW YOU

*I have only taken one shot for the 52 weeks of Us.