(photo by Cheryl)

I had to share this lovely email and photo from Cheryl, a reader of Country Living magazine.

She wrote:

Dear Country Living,

My Mom lives in an Assisted Living Facility and they have activities and games for the residents.  One game is BINGO and I help call as a volunteer.

I loved your ‘idea notebook: The perfect place to jot down your grocery list’ on page 58 in the March issue.  I took the idea a little further and added scrap paper in the center.  The covers are some of the BINGO sheets that I decoupage to recycled paper bags.  I will give the ‘notebooks’ to those that play BINGO!

Thanks for the wonderful idea!

It is so completely heart-warming that my ideas are inspiring others and getting put to good use. Thank you Cheryl.  You totally made my day!!

oh wait, I just came across this too.  The crafty couple sure are too cute!!

I wanted to share some of the valentines I received in my exchange. I was fun, and quite manageable, to do a little swap like that. From left to right: Beautiful “inspire” heart cut-out by Mousy Brown, “you are here” bookmark and magnet by CozyBlue and wonderful little bird by Mikala Creations.  Thanks so much ladies for swapping with me!

I also received a nice big valentine package from my friend Linda. It was such a wonderful surprise.

Included in the package were couple of really great Japanese books, some patterns, trims, ribbon and some beautiful jewelry. I ran out of time and didn’t get to take a picture of everything.I actually really like the patterns and am going to see if all the pieces are there.

And looksie here. This cute printable calender from Alex. Isn’t it fun? It was actually a little birthday gift a few weeks back. Please take a look at Alex’s vintage inspired jewelry and other vintage items.

On another note:
* I have decided not to make the origami wrap. I received my fabric and was so excited to try it out, but I just can’t get it to drape right. I’ve pinned it together, tried it on, re-pinned it over and over again. I think the knit fabric I bought is just a little too heavy to work. I might re-make my wrap instead and try to refine the pattern I made.

* We made some of this raw chocolate pudding a couple of days ago and it was quite good. Our cocoa powder is a bit too bitter and I only added 1/4 cup. I think It would be better without it next time (or I need a different cocoa powder).

* I want to make these tortillas. I have my grandmother’s most excellent recipe, but these have walnuts for the fat. I’m intrigued.

* I made these banana-maple oatmeal cookies today. I used ground flax seed (for the egg) and want to try them next with dried cranberries instead of raisins. Healthy and tasty and the kids liked them. They are almost gone.

* I think I’ve been eating too much!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

just to get you in the mood~

1. Heart, 2. Heart of my heart…, 3. Paper hearts, 4. we are the poets, 5. Graph: chuculeta´s crochet heart, 6. “The love you take is equal to the love you make”, 7. Bokehlicious Hearts, 8. Spools, 9. Heart milk (365/227), 10. 5/10 My heart like an open book, 11. i heart recycling (d2d: 4/2), 12. Flaming heart, 13. love is beautiful, 14. Hearts: 14/2/07, 15. heart-starter, 16. instantaneous, 17. Your heart may stand in the sun…, 18. HUMAN HEART, 19. Hanging my heart out to dry, 20. Peanut Butter Cup Heart, 21. I Heart Walnuts, 22. I could be there for you, 23. Heart Card (Hart Kaart), 24. Heart’s day on repeat, 25. I heart Roma, 26. Heart of Stone, 27. Music from the heart, 28. www.flickr.com/photos/zuzananz/3044796557/, 29. Broken heart type, 30. newspaper heart bunting

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

I discovered this technique from my local CSA. Bruising kale is quick and easy and involves no cooking. It gives the kale a sort of cooked feel and flavor. I am guessing that it may be a raw food thing. Whatever it is, it’s yummy, easy and a really great way to get in some dark leafy greens into your diet.

To bruise kale, first rinse and lightly dry leaves. Remove stems. Roll kale leaves tightly into a cigar shape and slice thinly. Toss kale strips into a bowl and sprinkle with 1/2 – 1 tsp of course sea salt. Using your hands thoroughly squeeze, mix, and rub salt into the leaves.

You can add lots of stuff to this to make a great salad. I added 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp orange muscat vinegar, shredded purple cabbage, shredded carrots, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and chopped walnuts.

You could also add beans, sprouts or purple onions. That would be nice too. Try it out and let me know if you like it.

This is Steve, our little groundhog.  Isn’t he cute. He’s giving us 6 more weeks of winter because we dread the hot, hot summers of southern AZ. Amy sent her little pattern for him to me on Monday night and I stitched him up right then and there. The kids played with him all day yesterday. Thanks Amy!

This is my sweet, sweet Ruby sporting one of my flower barrettes that I made her. My sis sent me this darling picture so I could drool. Isn’t  she the CUTEST!?!?!

just thought I’d share a few things…

This lovely brooch from Kirsten from a little swap we did a while back.  I love wearing it and think I need to make some different kinds. They are so fun to wear! (Kirsten is giving some very lovely little birthday cards away- go see!)

Some new art stuff.  Pan Pastels and Neocolor II Aquarelle Artists’ Crayons. Yay!!  I’ll be playing with them very, very soon. And a cute little wallet from the hubby. Having a favorite list on Etsy is very handy!

Links:

* Alicia Silverstone will be on Oprah tomorrow (01/26), along with Michael Pollan, chatting about food choices.

* I am totally wanting to make this Origami wrap sweater. I just can’t find the jersey knit in a color that I like.

* How to live in the moment on wikiHow.

Just enjoying my day, being surrounded by my loves.

Homemade birthday cards are the best (by Super-E)

Small art too (by I-guy)

Great books from the hubby.

Some great smellin’ stuff from my sis.

Watching my hubby make my cake. The top layer kept wanting to slide off the bottom layer so we had to stick a skewer in the middle to keep it together. It was a funny and messy situation. My hubby says that the messier it looks, the better it will taste.

We’ve spent a good time this weekend talking about the sadness of Haiti with Super-E. He brought up the subject since they had been talking about it in school. He seemed sad and worried and then remembered that we had given him a “coupon” to donate to a charity of choice over the holidays. He is particularly worried about the children of Haiti and so we donated to Save the Children. We found a list of places to donate HERE.

I also donated 2 items to Craft Hope, which have already sold. It feels really good to help in some some way. Please go check out Craft Hope’s Etsy shop, there is so much great stuff being donated and bought. It’s truly a beautiful thing.

winter bliss to me is: hot tea or coffee, boots, warm socks, warm pajamas, friends, cozy indoor family time, soups and stews, red wine, lots of popcorn, dresses with leggings, birdseed for the birds, snuggling & smooching, knitting/crocheting, snow, gray-blue weather, magic, new beginnings and lots of love.

* sharing some flickr favorites

* enjoying some ornaments from amy’s ornament swap. I love them.

* put away all the holiday stuff today. The house seems less cluttered, fresh, nice.

* made a new banner (come on over & check it out).

* going out tonight for dinner with my friend…yay!

* new “currently inspired by” on my sidebar.

* i made my first beanie today– knitting on the round!!!  I still need lots  more practice.

* looking forward to starting Mondo Beyondo on Monday.

what is your winter bliss?

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Wow, I didn’t mean to take such a long break. It just kind of happened. Between working and finishing up last minute gifts for a trip north to see family, I just couldn’t fit in a single post.

Ah, well. I am felling refreshed, renewed and ready to begin the new year. I’ve filled in my new date book, which was given to me as a gift. Seems such a personal thing to give, but somehow it works perfectly.  I love its beautiful illustrations and quotes. And my creative goal list for this year has been written–it is long and big and I am ready to dive in.

I have yet to find my word for the year, but I feel it coming.  Maybe the discovery tool will help.

I am so grateful for the past year. It is always a surprise to look back at everything that came to be during 2009, but I am super excited for whatever will unfold in 2010.

Are you going to say twenty-ten OR two thousand ten? Just curious.

I have lots to share, so I’ll be back soon.