Eight Accomplish No Not Really.

Today is one of those day I did light items. One might even say “I did something but no great accomplishment.

Finely got my friend Quenella page re-type. She was going to do these expensive wedding. But what got to me. People were encouraging her and then laughing behind her back about the entire thing. The only thing I told her...I believe it would be pretty hard to pull off considering your only letting 35 guest to attended.

So I got her PAGE for the peace garden done now. But still I see some trouble with it. I know there picture missing but her lay out.

Later on this week I'll try to put in the links.

I wasn't planning to do much. Did load of whites, put away the dishes, swept, and dinner dishes.

But I did make fruit cake which I'll be giving out for Yule. Look like I need to do two more.

  Change my colors for my next up coming painting on my ceramics. These are all of my acrylics I have. So I toss a card and if it comes up red, I pick out two colors and then the black one I pick one color.

Not sure what I'll be painting along with the four ornaments.

But I'm pretty sure I won't list anymore on my esty page but I listed an ROCKING HORSE UNICORN and COWBOY MOUSE sells for $2.50 and shipping in United States is $1.35.

But it doesn't mean I'm going to quite doing ceramics or any of my crafts. I did these two ornaments when I was painting on cowboy and rocking horse.

I have few ideals about my shop. One major thing is to clean out our basement.

Reality is what I make in ceramics would just cover my rent. Then the other over head I wouldn't make enough to cover.

But if I put it in the basement. No rent and then I would make my over head.

Take a moment and look at some of my piece of my facebook page, NICE AND NIFTY STUFF

Coffee is on

Photo Hunt (Candle)

My husband Murphy didn't want 64 candles on his birthday cake. I didn't want such a high calorie count cake.

So I decided to take care of both problems. I got the candle numbers and I google a recipe for healthy carrot cake.

Well Murphy birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year.

I didn't get the chance to get the candle on his cake before it was cut. So I did it after wards.

Did a little changes on this recipes. First of all Confession time...I went and purchase a can of cream cheese icing....How many of you use the term “frosting”? It was a lot cheaper and easier to do, for $1.99 plus sale tax.

  I've never! Well not very often I been obedient and follow a recipes to the letter. I add about ½ teaspoon of ginger.

I'm a person to try new things. The recipe said to put the grated carrots in flour mixture. We had both apples and carrots around the place. So instead of two cups of carrots. I did 1 cup of apples and 1 cup of carrots. There a local discount store call Yoders here in Bonners Ferry, that offered apples at .50¢ a pound. Since I mention there business. I should be nice and give there FACE BOOK page a shout out.

Like anything else we all need to watch our prices. Not everything in there is a bargain.

I honest can't say much about eggs now. I didn't have to pick out any shell. If I did I did wash my hands before I started and use soap.

 Very last thing was to fold in there flour mixture sugar. Confession time...I didn't use buttermilk instead I made up sour milk. I just add a cap full of lemon juice to the milk. To the best of my knowledge the only size you can get buttermilk is a quart size.

Anyhow I was trying to make this recipe as cheap as I can.

Since we all ready had walnut. Chop them up and use them instead of Pecans.

Complete recipe below

10.1 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 cups) $

2 teaspoons baking powder $

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon $

1/4 teaspoon salt $

2 cups grated carrot $

1 cup granulated sugar $

1/2 cup packed brown sugar $

6 tablespoons butter, softened $

3 large eggs $

1 teaspoon vanilla extract $

1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk

Cooking spray $

FROSTING:

6 ounces cream cheese, softened $

1 ounce fromage blanc

2 tablespoons butter, softened $

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract $

1/8 teaspoon salt $

3 cups powdered sugar $

1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted $

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. To prepare cake, weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add 2 cups grated carrot, tossing to combine.

3. Place granulated sugar, brown sugar, and 6 tablespoons butter in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Spread batter into a 13 x 9-inch metal baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 28 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake completely on a wire rack.

4. To prepare frosting, place softened cream cheese and next 4 ingredients (through 1/8 teaspoon salt) in a medium bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at medium speed until combined (don't overbeat). Spread frosting evenly over top of cake. Sprinkle evenly with toasted pecans.

Next week photo hunt will be Precious

Coffee is on

What Those Ghost Get To Look At

The other day I took my client Carrie up to cemetery in Sandpoint to see her parents grave. First time I have ever been to the cemetery in Sandpoint.

But I notice it was such a pretty view of the PURCELL and or CABINET 

 

Didn't spend much time at pine-crest memorial park. It was sort of icy and slick. She was want to know what they did with her sister, Lavons remains. Couldn't find anything and I tried FIND A GRAVE 

But it nice looking grave yard.

To see other SKY photo

Coffee is on

Photo Hunt (Feathers)

I was hoping to find an earring made out feather at local shop here in Bonners Ferry. The only thing I could fine is a pair peacocks painted on who knows what. Anyhow I thought they look cheap and would image someone with a mini skirt, and black boots. Yes of course bright red lipstick and blowing bubbles.

My husband is afraid that I might get down to light as a feather. I have no desire to be smaller then a size 12.

But I would like to just go into a store and fit into non fat people clothes. In all honestly I think they look like a tent.

I shouldn't be so hard on my self. A lease I don't have to wear a moo moo.

I can wear a medium top but no way I can even come close to button them, I need my boob to shrink about a good four to six inches.

So for me to get a blouse to button I need find a large and then it so baggy in the shoulders.

  When I had my ceramic shop I had a lady ask me if I could cast the ornaments solid so she wouldn't see the opening on the bottom. But still she want them light as a feather.

I complete my ornament goal for this year. I might have had a few left over from years. I have 44 ornaments done up.

If I count right I should only actual need 35 of them. Confession I have figured things wrong before.

Well these the last four I finished up. I'll paint more but at what rate. It for me to choice.

I took Carrie to her physical therapy. Afterward we stop at the PIE HUT Couldn't tell you how many time I drove by there.

I have never thought of stopping in there. But Carrie gave them 5 forks up on there pies.

  Personal I like a good hardy soup and order there white bean sausage soup with kale. It was filling and tasty.

There soup is serve with cracker and bread. I would liked a little more bread. I'm a dipper. With the saltines I like to spread butter and eat them. I don't keep them around the place. It one those food one will lead to anther and so forth.

Most of the people on my mom side can make pie. I wanted to try there cranberry crumble but they were out.

So I had a slice of strawberry-rhubarb pie. Evenly bounce in flavor.

I gave them a ten dollar. Put two bucks in the tip jar and loose change in my pocket.

They must let local artist hang there painting on the wall. Didn't see anything under $25 and nothing really all that great. Some of the painting were interesting.

Most of the painting I wouldn't give five brushes up. Since today theme is feathers and saw this bare bird on the wall right next to us.

Personal I found painting in there I would enjoy looking at more. Then the naked bird.

Next week theme is CANDLE

Coffee is on

Sky Watch (Every USA City Use A Few President Name)

I was hoping to do my walk a little earlier. Before I headed to my local Human Right meeting. I've never been to city in USA that didn't name a few of there streets after our President.

Today I walk down Eisenhower on the South hill. It short street.

It been over cast as I walk and lightly snowing, nothing like they have in Buffalo New York.

Please take a moment to enjoy some other SKY WATCH of the world

Coffee is on  

Photo Hunt (Books)

Actual one time this was my dish hutch. But I always want a different one and we finely had the chance to get anther one.
I thought of selling this. But I thought it would make a better book case. I still would like to put it in the smaller bed room and which I would like to turn into craft/office.

Next week photo theme will be FEATHERS

Coffee is on

High Pressure In Winter Usual Means Cold

We been having a cold snap now. Not a cloud in the sky. It wasn't been above freezing, so far it haven't been below zero. Keep your finger cross it doesn't drop. But it needs warm up to snow.
To see other sky PHOTO
Looking East

Coffee is on

Lesson Does Have A Value Of It Owns

Tried to promote my ceramic by using RAFFLECOPTER Did I get any entries, “no” and that's ok. But I got more people looking at my esty page, NICE AND NIFTY STUFF Same for my FACEBOOK PAGE for my shop.

 It made me look what I'm offering and need to offer other then for holidays. I got a few items I could do. Like a mug on lower price end one would sell for $4.75 which is still cheaper then lot of retail. But one can find mugs at local thrift store for under $1.00

Also in that stash of bisque I have cologne bottles, tea bag holders, ring boxes, and planters.

At this time for casting really can only be done in warmer weather. Sadly to say “I didn't get any molds cast up” this past summer.

I'll be putting my membership on hold for a bit. I notice I also promote my shop a little harder. It like paying for a weight lost group. I guess ones put a bigger effort in it, if it not a handout.

Confession time...I push a little harder though the social media site I use.

Plus I been using HASH TAG  with a photo description and it broaden my base more.

 Sending an ornament to someone in each State of Union. Not sure yet how that will play out in the long run. I haven't seen any result of any sort.

Right now it been negative. Confession time....I got two return because of delivery problems. But the other two I think it two early to tell if it will bfe negative or postive.

Conclusion of what I call the “snail mail” promotion will take some time and won't be able to complete in a year or even next year.

But it might give me a feeling of satisfaction to say “Each of my ornament is all 50 states”

These four ornaments are almost done. But this time right before I highlight them I'll post them on my personal facebook page with a link to my shop facebook page. Asking nicely for people to visit and like my shop facebook page.

Coffee is on

Saturday's Photo Hunt (Hero)

Hero's comes in from all sort of walks a life. But they go and do beyond what needs to be done.

My drawing is still going on and you can stop here to ENTER at bottom of posting.

Next week hunt will be BOOKS 

Coffee is on   

I Was Inform It Friday

For some odd reason I thought to was “Thursday” and my hubby inform it was “Friday” and it's work day for me.

Here is my SKY WATCH photo

I'm giving away one of my ORNAMENT 

Coffee is on

Snail Mail Promotion

.Running a Mom and Pop shop in an area which gives the big box store a tax break. Can be crippling for the small business owner But small business actual help your local economy more then larger box stores do. But I'm not here to promote any box stores.

Getting one name out there can be difficult because lack of funds. So one needs to think out side of the box.

I'm using our postal service to promote my businesNICE AND NIFTY

Been sending an ornament to each State in the Union. I picked them at random. So far I've picked PLAINSVILLE CT MALIBU CA  and OAK HARBOR WA

The way I find an snail mail address is by using ZILLOW

This ornament will be a random address in BURLINGTON WY Used zillow to find a random address with.

Since I don't know if the home is empty or not. I just change the address slightly.

In the package I put in hand address card saying...Hope you enjoy your free hand painted ceramic ornament from “Nice and Nifty Stuff” We;re trying to give an ornament to every State in the Union...Please like us on facebook....Please like us on Esty.

Listed two ornaments for sale on my esty page. One is a PARTRIDGE and the other one is MOON 

This year the ornaments are selling for $2.50 each.

We having a give away called...Snail Mail Promotion

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Coffee is on

Saturday Photo Hunt (Barbie)

This a difficult photo hunt for me. For what every reason I wasn't allowed to have a Barbie doll. Not saying I never played with a Barbie, went over to friends and neighbors.

Watching the episode of Simpson and MALIBU STACY I wonder how sexist and image Barbie is to our women.

There is a MALIBU BARBIE and she lives in MALIBU and I decided to send and ornament to

 MALIBU CALIFORNIA.

Next Saturday Photo Hunt theme is...HERO