Women In Art

Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies...EVER !!!!

I just had to share this recipe. This recipe was given to me years ago by a sweet woman who use to own a gourmet coffee shop and deli here in Placerville...I couldn't believe it when she told me the recipe....too good to be true! My son would come home after school with his friends and head right to the kitchen to bake up a batch of these...they would then proceed to eat every single one of them! Here it is....oh! I didn't leave ANYTHING out...promise.
Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
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1 CUP PEANUT BUTTER
1 CUP SUGAR
1 EGG (large)

That's it !!!!!!!! No flour...or anything else...mix all the ingrediants in a bowl..roll into balls, and flatten with the back of a fork. Bake at 350 for about 7-10 minutes...depending on your oven....just keep an eye on them....when done..remove from oven...cool a few minutes on sheet before removing...
PS...greasing the cookie sheet is not necessary either! Makes about 1 dozen.

Little Girls.......

"Mom-Mom can I look in your jewelry box"?????
"OOOOOOh this looks pretty cool"......
"I'll try this one on"...."Is this old Mom-Mom" ??????
"Do I look pretty".....????????
"Can I have this someday" ???????????
Granddaughters are so special........it's funny how things come in full circles...I remember how I loved to go through my Gram's jewelry box....I no doubt asked her the very same questions...it brings tears to my eyes.....

I have been so busy that its CRAZY.........I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel though... that's a good thing....I got ALL the patio furniture painted....the pool is up.....one birthday gift mailed....(have another to do)...took Toby to the groomers this morning.... working on an altered book that I must mail on Friday...on my way to pick Toby up I must stop at the post office and mail Marilyn's vintage papers pack....my days are extremely full..............I am THANKFUL.........

For my Dad...Happy Memorial Day...

Chief Petty Officer Bruce L. Enyart.....the old photo is my Dad (home on leave)...with his Grandfather Bates (my Great Grandfather) and his sister Edna Mae (my Aunt Sis)......
Thank-you Dad...for serving your country...and helping us all to be FREE....You were a GREAT "Sailor"...and you ARE the BEST Dad a child could possibly have...I am honored to have you as a FATHER....and FRIEND...I LOVE YOU...your daughter...XXXXOOOOOOO
Happy Memorial Day!

Old menu (Christmas) and telegram sent by my Dad to his home at Christmas time.

Memorial Day Weekend

To all the Men and Women who HAVE served...and who are SERVING..Thank-you!!! and God Bless you!

A Summer Journal

I had fun making this! It's a Summer 2007 journal....I used all kinds of things on the front...textured paper....ink and paint... H2O's....pieces of string...bits of seashells...cheesecloth....glitter etc.The inside is done with fabric...and a piece of netting....the back is different kinds of paper and more paint.

Food Friday

I get alot of those plastic flower pots!!!! Here is one of them that I painted some time ago...fun!
Now...on to FOOD.....I am making pork tenderloin for the weekend.....and the two following recipes...one is for a fresh green bean salad with feta cheese (I love fresh green beans)...and I'm going to make this Mexican corn on the cob that sounds delicious to me....(something different)...I'll also make the traditional potato salad (Andy's favorite)....along with some bbq hamburgers...What is everyone else planning on making for this UNOFFICIAL BEGINNING OF SUMMER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ????????????
Green Bean and Feta Salad
"Sweet onion, fresh green beans, feta cheese, garlic and several vinegars mingle in this piquant salad."
1 sweet onion, peeled
1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup canola oil
1 Tablespoon white sugar
3/4 teas. salt
black pepper
1 dash hot sauce
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
4 oz. feta cheese crumbled
Thinly slice the onion and place into a colander over the sink. Add the cleaned green beans to a large pot of boiling water and boil until crisp-tender (about 4 minutes). When the beans are done, drain the water into the colander to slightly cook the onions. Immediately rinse all in cold water to stop the cooking process.
For the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the garlic, rice wine vinegar, cider vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, pepper, hot sauce, and W sauce. Add the beans, onions and cheese and stir until combined. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Enjoy!
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Mexican Corn on the Cob (Elote)
"As served by street vendors in Mexico. Grilled ears of fresh corn are spread with mayo and sprinkled with grated cotija cheese.
4 ears corn, shucked
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup grated cotija cheese
4 wedges lime (optional)
Grill corn until hot and lightly charred all over, 7 to 10 minutes, depending on the temp. of the grill. Roll the ears in melted butter, then spread evenly with mayo. Sprinkle with cotija cheese and serve with lime wedge.
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This sounds really yummy to me....I'm looking forward to trying this one. I think the 'cotija' cheese is similar to our 'cottage cheese'....I'll look in some of the Mexican markets today...
Andy is off today for a very lonnnnng Memorial Day Weekend....we will be puttering around the house (putting up the pool)....having bbg's....and enjoying ourselves.....
I'd also like to wish my Dear cousin.....Maryellen...a very special day! (today is her birthday)!!!!!!!! (hope you get your package Sweetie...have a good one)! I love ya!

Flowers Going Wild

The flowers are growing like crazy...I'm busy with "too many projects"...I will have lots of ART to show soon....have lots of errands to run today...getting ready for the long Memorial Day weekend......sending lots of LOVE to everyone....( on my way to the library...post office...grocery store...and thrift store)...XXXXXXOOOOOOOO

Before and After

I really cannot believe how fast time flies.....I have been here...but I've been quiet. Too many projects going on...and not enough time in a day to complete them...the above photo is one of my latest adventures...re-doing some old redwood patio furniture that I discovered when we cleaned out the front of the garage....I'm working on the 2-seater/with table now.
I've also been working on a birthday gift for someone (surprise).......I mailed some things off yesterday..the 4x4 pages to Patti...and the 'secret' quilt to Jo in Australia...I also have some other swaps to finish and mail....and....ongoing of course is the yard-work.....weed-eating and cutting brush....taking care of the lawns and flowers...watering....etc. I bought 3 new plants over the weekend at one of the local nurseries.....A "Hosta"....which I've been wanting for a long time...this one loves the shade and I have the perfect spot...a "Lobelia"...which attracts butterfies and hummingbirds...and "Sedum" ...the foilage on this one is a deep bronze-red which will add a nice contrast to all the green. I'll be back and forth today from studio...to yard..to painting more furniture.....
I do try to look at all my favorite blogs...even though I don't always leave comments...I am "lurking" in the background...the weather is perfect..and this Memorial Day weekend the POOL goes up!!!!!!!

A REAL CHARMER

I got my stunning charm bracelet from Kristen's creative journey swap! It's fabulous! Everyone did a fantastic job! Thank-you Kristen for hosting this swap!

WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi .....It's a quiet Sunday morning.....Andy went with Tony to the Hangtown Motocross Races....I have the complete day to myself....(one of my favorite kind of days)...on Friday we watched the new game show "National Bingo Night"...I played all 3 games....and...GUESS WHAT! I got a BINGO on the 'blue game'....I had to have it verified...and now I am an official WINNER and entered into the drawing for the 50,000 dollar grand prize...!!! I hope I WIN !!!!! That would be too cool......above is my winning game card...and the winner verification letter....
The weekends seem to fly by don't they???!!!! We did some grocery shopping yesterday...some yard work.... I got some redwood stain and a new chair cushion for one of my outdoor projects..(re-doing some patio furniture)...I just might work on that today! It's sunny...warm...and alittle over-cast which makes for a really good day to work outside...better do it now before it gets way too HOT....the weather predicts the 90's next week!
I'm also working on some art...but it's a surprise for someone's birthday...so I'll have to wait to share it...Hope everyone is having a good weekend...oh! wish me LUCK...I just might have a chance at winning that money! (then...drinks are on me).

Yard and Art......

These are some 4x4 chunky book pages for Patti's swap..the theme is Man and Time.
I have been really busy with the yard lately...this morning I stepped outside to breathe some fresh air, and noticed something needed clipped...Well...that's all it took! Put a pair of clippers in my hand and its all over....I go from one thing to the next... its all I can do to stop!
A person couldn't ask for better weather than this....I am so LOVING being outside working in the yard and flowers....I am also happily busy in the studio doing all kinds of things...getting ready to start an altered book for a swap...and various other little surprises...hope all of you have a fun Friday...and AWESOME weekend.....

Food Friday

Good Morning Everyone!
To start this awesome Friday morning here is a delicious recipe for you to enjoy! It's easy..and uses alot less oil than most granola recipes.
This is good and crunchy with lots of sweet flavor.....
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3 cups rolled oats
1 cup chopped almonds(can use any nut of your choice)
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 (14oz.) package flaked coconut
1/3 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
6 tablespoons pure maple syrup
6 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins
1 cup dried cranberries or cherries
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet with sides, or a large cake pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl toss together the oats, nuts. wheat germ, coconut, and sunflower seeds. In a separate bowl whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, oil, water and salt. Pour the liquid over the oat mixture, and stir until evenly coated. Spread out on the prepared pan. If you want some chunky bits, squeeze some small handfuls into little clumps.
Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Stir occasionally until evenly toasted. Mix in dried fruit (raisins..cranberries...and cherries). Cool. Store in an airtight container at room temp.)
(I like to put granola on top of my yogurt...yummy!)

ALL YOU BEAUTIFUL WOMEN !!!!!!!!!!!!

I heard on the news that the percentage of women who are getting mammograms has gone DOWN! This is terrible! It should be going UP! So...PLEASE EVERYONE...remember to get your mammograms! Early detection is the key! Don't think for one minute that "it can't happen to you".....It can! I have friends who are dealing with breast cancer...plus my Sweet Mom died of breast cancer in 2000....I'd give anything to have her with me today...PLEASE GET THOSE YEARLY MAMMOGRAMS.....(Don't say you can't afford it)...most states have programs for women who can't afford this to have it done for FREE !!!!!!!
GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS !!!!!!!

Channel 10 News

This is Tom Whitaker .....photo journalist from Channel 10 News in Sacramento California...and his truck. (see story below).......

A Day at the Iris Garden and Channel 10 News

As you can see...we made the trip to Fairplay California yesterday to see all the beautiful Iris at Bluebird Haven Iris Garden. They have 2900+ varieties of Iris. The colors (I didn't realize Iris had so many colors).....are absolutely beautiful....this is a Victorian show garden in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. An acre of landscaped iris, daffodils, wildflowers, and shrubs and trees. They have a large Victorian gazebo, arbors, park benches, wandering paths for viewing the irises and selecting your favorites, and picnic tables. All the iris are in PEAK bloom now...and it really is breathtaking....as you wander up and down through the paths you keep a little pad and pencil with you to mark down your favorite irises name and number..names such as "Dutch Chocolate"....."Lilac Light"......"Golden Sunshine"....all of the iris bulbs are for sale (from 3.00 to 6.00 per bulb)...they dig them up in July and August and send them to you...if you place an order.
Andy and I had a great day....I packed us a picnic lunch...we sat among the flowers at one of the picnic tables and enjoyed ourselves....
Another thing happened also......I was meandering down one of the paths...taking photos of all the flowers...Andy mentioned something to me about ( "Vic...you need the camera that is behind you")...I said "what?".....and turned around...there standing just a few feet behind me was Tom Whitiker from KCRA Channel 10 News...one of the BIG news stations out of Sacramento. We started talking....one thing lead to another...and all of a sudden he says to me "May I interview you?"......."Wha"??????? "yeah....sure". (Oh God!) So......after I got all hooked up with microphone wire under my t-shirt...and a little box clipped to the pocket of my jeans, another clipped to the neck of my t-shirt..off we go walking among the iris...he stands back adjusting his huge outrageous looking camera and just starts asking me questions...he says to me ....okay...watch the 5 or 6 o-clock news tonight....Andy and I shake his hand...and move on....(by the way..he was a really nice down to earth guy)..
SO.........GUESS WHAT??????????? Tom was not kidding!!!!!! I was on the 6-oclock channel 10 news last night....!!!!!!!! (talking about my day at the iris garden)......

"The Secret"

This is the 8x10 quilt that I made over the weekend. The theme is "The Secret"..meaning that we incorporate a secret pocket with something removable.....the 1st photo is the bluebird in the pocket...the second is the bluebird and heart outside of the pocket...and the 3rd is a close shot of the bluebird with heart....I got my huge box of fabric out of the closet and just started to lay pieces down......I also used pieces of old vintage lace , ribbon and buttons...I plan on making lots more of these little collage quilts....figured it was about time I started using some of that box of fabric and bits of vintage ......
Hope everyone had a GREAT Mother's Day.....I could not have asked for a BETTER one! The weather was perfect.....spent the day at home working on the quilt...doing some work outside along side of Andy...(getting the garden plot ready to go)..tending to my flowers...and visiting with Tony...Dawn...and Ty. I got a knife that I've been wanting for my art...it's a husky heavy-duty xacto type knife only bigger and stronger...and a really cool cactus that I'm going to re-pot today.....Andy is home.. ..we are going to Fairplay to a place called "Bluebird Iris Farm"...I want to take photos and check out all the different speices of Iris...plus have a picnic.
Thank-you so much to everyone who left such sweet comments about my Dad's memorial visit...I love him so much..... he makes me so proud...he has always been...and still is...such a GREAT Dad....I am so very fortunate to still have him in my Life...

A Veteren Memorial Visit

Yesterday I took my Dad out to visit the Veterens Memorial here in Placerville...this is recently just built...I think it's about time. This is the first time Dad has been here...he got to see his brick that is located on one of the walls....it's a beautiful place and the whole little trip was really touching and beautiful....on the way home we stopped for a rootbeer float.
On Dad's brick it says...CMM (Chief Machinist Mate)..Bruce L. Enyart...my Dad's nickname is "Speed".....He served in the USN before...during...and after WWII. My Dad will be 91 years old next month. I am a proud daughter! (more photos below)..the last photo is Dad leaving the Memorial.....