OH those colors of Pepers & yummy too!

Pick a peck of peppers lately? I have and been working on stuffing and canning them for several days. I just love the colors. The family loves the bounty from them! Tom, Taylor and Zach like 'em HOT and stuffed,. Jacob and Colton will take them in the salsa.

What's your favorite recipe?

Tomato salad for those summer fresh tomatoes

sketch used with permission by artist

Made one of our favorite adapted tomato recipes tonight from "Everyday Living" by Rachel Ray . I have a few recipes I take turns using as the tomatoes come in from the garden.

Ingredients:
a couple thinly sliced red onion rings ( I do not like raw onion, but my husband dose, I can take a little of the flavor)
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Salt
6 ounces red and yellow grape or cherry tomatoes, halved (1 cup)
1/3 cup pitted black and green olives, sliced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
Pepper
1/2 pound unsalted bocconcini (or bite-sized mozzarella), quartered (1 1/2 cups)

Can't find bocconcini? Use 1/2-inch cubes of regular fresh mozzarella instead.

Directions:
In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, olives, 1 tablespoon basil and 2 teaspoons olive oil; season lightly with salt and pepper.

In a separate bowl, combine the bocconcini, remaining 1 tablespoon basil, remaining 2 teaspoons oil.

Add onions to tomato/olive mix about 10 min before serving or in just those glasses who like the onion.

Fill 4 martini glasses with the tomato salad, bocconcini and onions.

To see original recipe go to:http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-index/salad-recipes/Tomato-and-Bocconcini-Salad

To read about my sketch go to: http://susanwalkerart.blogspot.com/

Sending home some souviners from Hilton Head, SC

Been in Harbour Town, Hilton Head SC for about a week now and wanted to send some souvenirs back to NaNA and BaBa.

making envelopes out of the kids menus from the Crazy Crab, i placed their post card in with shells, pine needles- as they are everywhere. Always being gathered by the lawn service and used for 'mulch' in all the flower beds.Odd though, I don't seem to notice the trees themselves. Also sphagnum moss as it to grows there, hanging so beautifully swaying when there is a breeze. An alligator-fake of course (cuz' they are in the lagoon behind our townhouse,on the golf courses etc.) Sealing it with packing tape-OOPS, not sure how they are going to get it opened...

Then NaNa loves dolphins and they are in the harbour and BaBa penguins and I found each one.

I hope they like their little surprises.

PS- they recieved them in two days and no problem getting them open!

Took a quick walk between rain storms today with the kids.

Colton and Taylor suprised me with this little batch of daisies!

Little gathering of items on my "Window sill Gallery"

I was doing dishes and when I noticed how sweet this little gathering of items looked.Especially knowing how the items came about. It humbles me as I think he or she gave ME that. That thought it was special and gave it to me...

This is one of my heart rocks we found in Erin last year placed on a clear easel for display. Jacob gave me these little butter cup flowers and rock. I have them in what I think is an old medicine bottle. It is only 1.5 inches tall and perfect for little flowers the kids bring me. I display a lot of the things they give me here on my window sill gallery. Rotating them out for new. I actually put the little rocks and shells in a clear vase and place another votive size candle inside. My hope is that is shows them I appreciate there little gifts and use them in my day to day.

Prayers and Flowers

The teachers in the triplets class had to leave for a family emergency a several weeks ago. Daily we pray for her,and her family at home and in their class.Through out the days without her they have created cards and notes and such. I got to organize and lead them through one such project.

Each child traced their hands they pray with, colored them up and cut them out. They assembled them with q-tips dipped in color for stamens and pipe cleaners wrapped around heavy gauge floral wire for support of the stems. I just hate when something flops on the pipe cleaners...Some added a leaf or two near the top so it didn't disappear into the vase.

Filling the vase with crinkle paper to give the stems a lift. adding a little curl to the fingers for form I think they turned out quite nice.

We hope each time Mrs. R takes a look at them she is reminded of all the prayers and well wishes being sent her way!

Might have something here...another way to display that artwork...

A bit of art the kids brought home. Just wanted to get it out of the way so it wouldn't get messed up...I might have something here. I have another piece on the other side and have been flipping it to display it. I currently have this hanger on a curtain rod but you could get a decorative hook and dress up the hanger for a long term display method. I am thinking hanging it off the ceiling fan we have on a high ceiling and let it freely hang to see both sides. Could even hang small art pieces of each clip...

Decorate this Cake

A little early celebrating as we were all gathered together for Mothers Day

Asked Colton to decorate this cake...turns out as he didn't know it was

a birthday cake for him!

Bookmarks for support

For April the triplets first grade class sponsored two ASCI students from foreign christian schools. the idea is for the children to earn money to raise their share of support by doing odd jobs and extra chores or any other creative way they come up with. last year I ad them each create a card cover and I made blank note cards that they then sold. Having all proceeds go to the program. Mrs. Roe liked that and asked if I could help the children do something. They decided to create bookmarks. this is what they came up with. Some of them had such fun just rubbing color over different textures and others did illustrations. I applied some of their memory verses they have learned over the year to them too.

Sweet Blessings

The triplets first grade class had Vadym and Jenine to sponser this month. So they decide to sell bake goods to raise their support. Each student was to help pick and prepare thier sweet treat at home.We did some sugar cookies and choclate covered popcorn.

I got to go and help out. Each classmate took turns 'clerking' the stand durin the lunches. They made great signs and had funa and a huge seccess in sales! -SELL OUT!Round two next Monday!

An Easter Gift for Tom

After school I took the kids to a nearby bike trail on one of the first nice afternoons this year. So sunny, we walked along the trail that in places ran by a lake. Here on the way back to the car I snapped this photo. So for a Easter gift I thought i would convert the color photo to black and white and add a verse Tom likes. i was pleased with the way it turned out and liked the gift as well.

Egg art

Using a crayon, the kids drew on their eggs. They liked doing this the best as getting different colors on one egg is not so easy. Remember the bottles with the rabbit head stopper? I loved those and the marbling effect on an egg!

Mary and the Three Wise Guys

A Christmas Card. My Mary and her Wise Guys
Zachary(4,)Colt (6)Jacob (4) and Taylor(4)

When I did this it was a cooolld day. I had been waiting for some good weather and it looked like this was as good as it was going to get if I wanted to get them ordered in time for sending. My sister helped me gather some things for the costumes and I had the kids get ready. Originally I wanted to go to Moraine on the 'beach'.
Then I got to thinking "Oh, they were in a stable not on the sand!" so next door there is a building I thought would work for the background. I had the kids get dressed, practiced what I wanted for the pose in the house. OK-go now, jump in the car, run and get in position. Take a few pictures-hold on, I know its cold, one more....and back to the house. I loaded them on the computer to view and was good to go!

Have to say I haven't been able to come up with anything near as good as this since!

Scribble crayon for Valentines

Taylor and I saved and sorted crayons. At no loss of a source from her stash...I found at the local craft store a set of small muffin size heart shaped rubber baking cups. We tried a few combinations and times in the microwave.
After cooling- they peeled right out. On the computer I created a tag to accompany them. "Color my World Valentine" . Taylor bagged them and attached the tag after she signed it. She was thrilled!