What Catches Your Eye

We were at dinner with friends and I walked out the front door with my dinner.  I had to set my dinner down and walk back to the spot where the arch framed this view perfectly.  The only thing I did was sit down on the steps and center the archway.  The sun was just going down so it did the highlighting for me.  How great was that!

I might have to turn this into a watercolor or an oil painting.  Who knows maybe Rolf Lygren will paint it.
I will have to use this as an inspiration for my crafting too.  I love the way the sun lit up the palm tree.  It was so beautiful in person and to capture it well Priceless!!!

Festival of Tables Luncheon Tea and Fashion Show

Last month I did a tablescape for the Clayton Valley Woman's Club Festival of Tables Luncheon Tea and Fashion Show It was one of our annual fundraisers.  It is a luncheon Tea and Fashion Show. The Fashion Show part was put on by Draper's and Damon's.
Here are just some of the raffle prizes that you could win

There was a good turn out and all the tables were full.  Just to let you know that I won 3 of those baskets.  Here is the room full and ready to chat, eat. and mingle with friends, family, and met lot of new people.

Here is Joan she was the one tasked with setting everything up and what a great job she did.  Everything ran smooth and easy.  Well at least that's the way she made it look!  Great Job Joan!
Joan is the one on the left.

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You sign up to do a table and your theme.  I chose Paris.  My friend Tess helped me.  She had lots of different plates, table settings, napkins, and the chair covers.  I was amazed at what she had.  Thanks Tess for all your help and input.  My DIL helped Tess and I do the set up, as always Jenn is a big help.  Here is my table.  I used my Cricut to cut out all the flowers, leaves, placemats, and gift tags/ name cards.  I use the CTMH Art Philosophy, Artiste, and Artbooking cartridges to make everything,

Here are some of the other tables for you to enjoy.

Here the ladies dressed the part.  Their table was the roaring 20's and I think they did a great job. They had lots of fun too!

Lunch was catered by Rick's On Second in Antioch.  Lunch was served by husbands and son's of the Woman's Club.
It was a great lunch I loved it it was the perfect amount too.  There was dessert too but by the time I remembered to take the picture it was gone.  Imagine that!  LOL  It was very good.   Just before lunch was a raffle and I won one.  Lucky me!

After lunch was another raffle given out.  I won another one. now I have 2.  Lucky me again!
Then it was time for the Fashion Show from Draper's and Damon's.  The models were all club members or family of club members.

They took a break in the middle of the Fashion Show and did another raffle and you guessed it I won another one.  Out of 30+ baskets to win I won 3 of them and here they are.  What a fun day it was.

Be sure to check back and see what I did with everyting from tablescape.  

A Great Loss for Me

You may be wondering why I have not been posting much lately.
My Mom passed away last month at the age of 94 just shortly before her 95th Birthday.  She had lived with me for the last 15 years and she will be greatly missed.  I miss being able to say how do you spell this or that and math she was a math wiz to the end.
We were 4 generations living together from 4 to 94 and now we are 3 generations.  She was surrounded by all her family and it was a very peaceful passing.  She had a good and full life and we will miss the laughs and tears a lot.  She was a Mother of one, Grandma of 2, and Great Grandma of 3.

Love you and miss you lots Mom!

We used Vitas Hospice and I don't have enough great things to say about them, the care and resources that they provided.
Not a fun thing to talk about but when you need them or don't know what to do then you need to know what others have done and who they have used.
My Mom qualified for the ICC care.  Honestly I don't remember what that stands for but they provided a nurse round the clock from Sunday till my Mom passed on Tuesday.  They walked me thru all the steps and made all the arrangement.  They even went so far as to remind me to eat and drink something. They were great with all the family too, Great Grand Kids included.  They answered all their questions too!
They were wonderful! 

Bon Appetite May Cooking Club

Our group met at Jeanne home for our get together .  We were all excited about the menu this month.
We started off the evening with Champagne and Guava and toasted to the another get together and the beginning to another great meal with the girls.
No that is not a potato holding down the napkins but a rock that looks like a potato.  Can you see the chef holding the menu.

Jeanne said her Son John did the tablescape right down to getting the trivets for each one of us and her husband made our name cards.  It was a family affair!  The color was so festive.  Love the blue.

We started the evening with The Cowboy Caviar that Jeannine from page 20 of the What Can I bring for Dinner?  by Anne Bryn .  This is a light way to start out.  Everything is waist friendly.  We all were commenting on all the ways you could use this dish.  Over salad, on a taco, or just on a bed of lettuces. We all loved it.  

Then is was time for the meal.  Jeanne made the Barb's Taco Ring on page 187 What Can I Bring for Dinner by Anne Bryn.  Cathy made the Chicken Taco Soup from page 84.  The soup is in the Red bowl.  It was in a big pot on the stove.   I made the Big Green Salad with Orange, Avocado and Red Wine Vinaigrette page 94-5. Funny thing this time everyone followed the recipes exactly.  We normally make little changes here and there.  Not this time.   You can see the cake in the background more about that below.

Here is the soup and it was really good. 

Here is our meal all plated up and ready to be devoured.  There was silence so that tells you that everyone loved it all.  I did add some of the Cowboy Caviar to the top of my Barb's Taco Ring.  I also added a dollop of Sour Cream to the Chicken Taco Soup.  You can see the little treat that Jeannine made with the jelly beans.  I made the little bag which was holding a little wisk for each person.   

Then it was time for dessert which Pam made Vanillia Crazy Wacky Cake from Pinterest.  It uses vinegar and boy was it good.  She said this is very simple and easy to make.  

Thanks for stopping by!

June Promotion with Close To My Heart

The Perfect Companion for Memory Keeping on the Go
During the month of June, when you purchase any My Crush® book and its accompanying assortment pictured in Annual Inspirations 2014–2015, you will receive the coordinating stamp set FREE! That is a savings of at least $9.95 USD / $10.95 CAD! Choose from five lovely My Crush book offerings that will provide a swoon-worthy background for your favorite memories. From family reunions to camping adventures to holiday countdowns—and much more—you will be crushing on all these books and the possibilities they provide. Every My Crush book features a hard cover with wire binding and cardstock-weight pages that are printed with eye-catching designs to form the perfect bases for your memory keeping. Additionally, each My Crush book also features unique details—from glossy print, to vellum pages, to gold foil, to ink-resistant patterns—that make displaying your personality easier than ever. Plus, once you add the artistry of the coordinating assortments featuring sticker sheets, envelopes, alphabets, cards, and journaling spots, along with your free stamp set, you will be well on your way to your own gorgeous mini book creation! This offer is only available while supplies last* and once they’re gone, these books are gone for good, so put your orders in early to get your summer romance rolling today!

You can see the whole My Crush collection here

This months Stamp of the Month S1506 Ice Cream Dream

Set of 7
Recommended My Acrylix® Blocks:
2" × 2" (Y1003), 3" × 3" (Y1006), 2" × 6½" (Y1010), 4" × 5" (Y1012)

It is a fun one for your cardmaking.  Here you can see it used on a Invitation.

 Here you can see it on a Layout.

You can order yours here!