How well do you know the United States? Here's a fun game to test your knowledge.

Happy 4th of July!

Grab your kids and check out this fun link: Click here United States to go there. 

Have a great day!

How To: Keith Haring children's art project

Looking for a unique 4th of July table decoration to make with your kids? How about Keith Haring tablemats? 

 

For complete instructions click Education.com . This project was created by Julie Williams.

These table mat designs would be great in various color themes for other occasions like Birthday Parties. Or how about an "Arty Party" with girlfriends? The possibilities are endless.

Creamy Potato Salad

I recently dusted off my 1981 edition of Better Homes and Garden cookbook and discovered a fabulous recipe for Creamy Potato Salad.

 

This was my very first cookbook and was given to me as a wedding present nearly 26 years ago. It's seen better days – almost completely ruined when I left it on a hot stove one time. But no matter how ugly and old this cookbook is, I can't bring myself to part with it.  I have this ongoing conversation in my head: "Just toss it out. It's old, somewhat outdated. No one eats Tuna Fish Casserole anymore. Do they?" That conversation usually takes place during a random cleaning spree - when I am feeling overwhelmed, tired, disorganized, and with too much "stuff." I clean and toss in an attempt to de-clutter my my mind. It usually works wonders.

Anyway, in the case of this cookbook sentimentality has always won out and it remains on my bookshelf. I'm glad because the other day rediscovered a wonderful recipe for Creamy Potato Salad.  I whipped up a a batch and took it to a BBQ. It was a hit with both men and women.  You know a dish is a hit when the person sitting next to you doesn't know who made it and they rant and rave while devouring bite after bite. Or when someone comments, "I don't usually like Potato Salad but I love this one." Those are great moments.

I'll be making another batch of this Salad for July 4th.

I think the celery seeds are what make it great. Check it out sometime!

Creamy Potato Salad

6 medium potatoes (2 lbs)

1 cup thinly sliced celery

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1/3 cup chopped sweet pickle

1 1/4 cups mayonnaise

2 tsp celery seed

2 tsp vinegar

2 tsp prepared yellow mustard

1 1/2 tsp salt

2 hard-cooked eggs, coarsely chopped

In a covered saucepan cook potatoes in boiling salted water for 25 - 30 minutes or till tender; drain well. Peel and cube potatoes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add celery, onion, and sweet pickle. Combine mayonnaise or salad dressing, sugar, celery seed, vinegar, prepared mustard, and salt. Add mayonnaise mixture to potatoes. Toss lightly to coat potato mixture. Carefully fold in the chopped eggs. Cover an chill thoroughly. Makes 8 servings.

Shrink Plastic - Good Book

If you are into shrink plastic, this is a great book to purchase.

Shrink Art 101 with Rubber Stamps
by Jane Roulston

You'll love every project using rubber stamps on shrink plastic! Create sea glass, ivory, jewelry, buttons, and much more! This book takes shrink plastic to a whole level. Out with the cutesie and in with the upscale look. 35 Pages, full color.

Rhinocerous Charm Card Shrink Art

For a fun craft project to do with your kids, pull out the Shrinky Dink plastic and print out the template below -  only available through this site! 

This is a charm made from two pieces of rough and ready Shrink plastic available from most craft stores, or at the online Shrinky Dink Website.  The charm was attached to a greeting card and given as a gift. The recipient can keep the card as is, or remove the charm and wear it for a necklace. It's the ideal "Two in One" gift.

Print the Template below to create a charm for a Blue Rhinocerous

1) Trace the Rhinocerous at the above size, using colored pencils and an Ultra fine tip black sharpie.

Color the background using layers of white, cream and browns. Shade the edges for a slightly aged look.

2) Randomly scribble the base shape (below) using a variety of colors. 

3) Using scissors, cut out each shape. Punch a hole at the top of each shape using a 1/4" single hole paper punch.

4) Pre heat an oven to 325 degrees. Place charms onto a cookie sheet, pencil side down, and bake for approximately 10 minutes.

5) As the plastic bakes, it will shrink and curl onto itself. THAT IS O.K. DON'T PANIC AND TRY TO UNCURL IT! It will eventually uncurl and flatten all by itself. Once it has completely flattened, it is ready to be removed from the oven to cool.

6) After the charm has completely cooled, attach the two pieces together using a metal jump ring.

7) Your charm is now ready to wear, or ready to be attached to a greeting card you have made.

For more information and templates, click on links below:

DLTK Holidays

Shrinky Dinks Rough and Ready Plastic

ShrinkPlastic Ring Tutorial from PlanetJune.com

Lucky Squirel Art Gallery

Dogs...

If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him 
and never say its not quite as good as his mother 's 

  

then adopt a dog.

 

 

If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour, 
for as long and wherever you want ...  

then adopt a dog.

 

If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn't care 
about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies  

then adopt a dog.

  

 

If you want someone who is content to get on your bed
just to warm
your feet and whom you can push off if he snores 

  

then adopt a dog !

 

 

If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn't care 
if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if 
every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves 
you unconditionally, perpetually ..  
 

then adopt a dog.

 

 

 

 

BUT, on the other hand, if you want someone who will
never come when you call,
ignores you totally when you come home,
leaves hair all over the place,
walks all over you, runs around all night and only 
comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence is solely to ensure his happiness .,

 

 

 

 

 

then adopt a cat! 
Now be honest, you thought I was gonna say... marry a man (or a woman), didn't you? 



You... 

........have a GREAT Day!!!

Photoshop Before After: Red Moss

Red Moss at Point Lobos, Carmel California.

This is the shot straight out of my crummy point and shoot camera.

1) Using MCP Coloring book actions, I converted the image to black and white.

2) Next, I used a soft paint brush (around 70 pixels in diameter) to restore the moss color.

3) I darkened the edges slightly using P.W. quick edge burn action, adjusted the contrast, boosted the color, then finally sharpened and resized for the web.

It looks a bit surreal.

I'm not sure if I prefer the original (below) or the black and white version.

Point Lobos, Carmel California

Point Lobos, a State Park in Carmel California took only a few million years to make. 

It's shows doesn't it?

My husband and I recently took a morning hike in this place during our "Get-Away" from kids to celebrate 25 years of marriage.

I'm not a hiker by nature, but with these views I could quickly become one.

This is a trail leading through an old Cypress Forest. 

The colors and drama of nature were stunning. Red moss! Who knew such a thing existed?

(To see some before and after versions of this photo, see my other posting titled: Red Moss /Photoshop Before and After).

I couldn't pass by this little guy without getting a picture. 

My son will be happy to see this lizard and he will ask if I held.

I'll respond, "I tried. But failed. It was too fast."

It's true!

During this shot, my husband was feeling uneasy about how close I got to the edge of the cliff.

He was yelling at me, "Monica, what are you doing?"

 

"Oh nothing honey. Just testing the waters. I'm fine. Stop worrying. Let me get my photos."

THE AMERICAN FLAG

Today is Flag Day. Fly it high, fly it proud. It's a beautiful sight.

Can I share a story with you?
When I was a little girl, I always wished my birthday was on a Holiday. My sister's birthday is on Halloween, my father's birthday is on St. Patricks Day. I wanted a special holiday birthday too. 

One day, I looked on the calendar at my birthday. June 14th. To my suprise, Flag Day was written. 
All these years my birthday had been ON a Holiday and I never knew it.

Obviously my family didn't officially celebrate FLAG DAY. I'd never heard of it before!

Have a great Flag Day today.

For more information on what this Holiday is about, click here: AMERICAN FLAG DAY

Pink Floyd - Live at Pompeii

Saturday Night.

I know the person on keys and she is stellar!

If your in town, check it out! Tickets at the door are only $15.00 bucks.

Carmel By-The-Sea

Let me share with you what I'm seeing right now.

Shhhhh...... Just watch and listen.....

Are you relaxed yet?

This sign says it all.

It's next to a home that overlooks the ocean in Carmel California USA.

Vegetarian Enchiladas from the freezer

While I'm away with my hubby on a lovely holiday, my kids will be eating this dish from my freezer: Vegetarian Enchiladas. They're quick to make, freeze well, and served with a green salad they are a complete and filling meal...even for the non-vegetarians.

Ingredients:

• 1 can whole Pinto Beans
• 1 can refried beans
  
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  
• 1 small can chopped mild green chilies
  
• 1 can mild enchilada sauce
• 6 corn tortillas
• 1- 2 cups brown rice
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 cube knorr vegetable bullion or equivalent
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes

I don't play favorites with my brand names. Can you tell? But I would if someone paid me.

1. Cook brown rice (according to directions on box). For a bit of flavor and mexican punch, you can add the cumin, bullion cube and red pepper flakes to the boiling water prior to adding the rice. 

2) When rice is done cooking, divide between two small casserole dishes. I prefer to divide my ingredients into two containers and freeze one for later. This recipe will also work well in one 8x8 pyrex casserole dish.

3) Combine beans, cheese, and green chilies. (no, that isn't dog food).
4) Spoon bean mixture onto a warmed corn tortilla and spread around. 

I warm mine directly on the stove top individually. You can also place a stack in the microwave with a damp paper towel for a few seconds too. Warming prevents the tortillas from splitting when they are rolled.

5) Place the enchiladas on top of the rice. Squeeze in as many as you can so they fit snuggly like peas in a pod. And while you are doing it, your hand will look more alive and colorful than mine! Promise.

6) Pour Enchilada sauce over all of the enchiladas, making sure the entire corn tortilla is drenched in sauce. I start with ends first since they will tend to dry out if not covered in sauce.

7) Sprinkle with cheese and place into an oven set at 350 degrees. Cover and bake until heated, aproximately 45 minutes.

Yummm.

These will really hit the spot.

In fact, if I wasn't away on vacation, sipping wine and relaxing by the ocean with my high school sweetheart, I swear I'd be devouring these right now!