PRESSURE COOKING

 

My new toy in the kitchen  -  A Wolfgang Puck 7 quart Pressure Cooker.

Although Christmas is a time for giving to others, you know me, I had to but myself a few toys.

One new toy is this great pressure cooker.

I've always wanted one and since Mr. Puck was nice enough to make one in green, how could I resist.

I tried making a pot roast in it and didn't really use the recipe in the book but kinda threw in this and that (which is my favorite way to cook) and you know what........ 

I LOVE THIS THING!!!!!!!!

Yeah, yeah, yeah......  I know, I know......  Now you are wondering why I did not take a picture of my meal and you are wondering why I didn't use an actual picture of MY pressure cooker instead of stealing one off the internet but HEY......... AT LEAST I BLOGGED ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!

Okay, I'm off to search for pressure cooker recipes........




Les Halles - NYC

What a wonderful day...   I took the train in to the City to meet Greg who had to work on this Friday after Thanksgiving.  Sure to some a train ride is no big deal but this was the first time I was taking the ride by myself and if you know me, you know that I get a little nervouse when I am doing something new.

I got to Grand Central Station and faught the temptations of browsing too much at the craft vendors that were set up in the hallways, then outside I faught the temptations of drooling at the store windows.  Made my way to Greg's office where I got the grand tour and then off we went to our destination - Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles..........

Drinks at the bar were just the start of a perfect evening.  We met a nice English couple and of course Greg was happy to discuss West Ham United - I was very happy to sit back, listen and sip my drink...

Seated at a cozy corner table we browsed the menu - assisted by my tiny flashlight since it was a bit dark in there and several other diners had the same trouble so my little light made its rounds.
Having already checked out the menu on line, I knew exactly what I was having.......   The Boeuf Bourguignon, and for dessert - The Crepes Suzette and a Cappuccino........  Greg chose the Betteraves roties au fromage de chevre (beet salad with goat cheese), Choucroute Garnie - And for dessert - Mousse Au Chocolat.  Note - He is a smart man, he knew well in advanced that he would have to let me taste test everything....   LOL

 

This may have been my first time at Les Halles but it certainly will not be the last.  Thank you Anthony Bourdain - Hope to meet you one day....... Until then, I look foward to watching you on TV.

http://leshalles.net/brasserie/

FOR THE LOVE OF NORMAN ROCKWELL

I remember about 20 years ago I was at an auction in Upstate New York.  There were lots of things that caught my eye that day but for some reason I kept looking at a lot of Norman Rockwell plates. 

There is just something about his work that makes you look at a simple scene and in your head you start imagining a whole story....  

I ended up only getting one plate that day but I still love it!!!!

It is called "A Young Girl's Dream"

I really don't know what the story is about this girl but in my mind I've imagined hundreds of stories about here... Some good... Some sad... Just depends on my mood I guess.......  

So recently I found several Norman Rockwell Counted Cross Stitch pattern books and I listed them for sale on ArtFire.

The next day, I already had a sale......  The pattern was for "The Runaway" - A young boy sitting next to a police officer....  No surprise that it sold so fast because it really is a great pattern.......

The day after that I had another sale...........   This time it was for a book with two patterns:  "Saying Grace" and "Grandpa's Girl"........  Again, no surprise that someone would want to buy this book because again, it was great patterns.......

The part that DID surprise me is that it was not the same buyer.........

There were TWO different people in two different states who bought Norman Rockwell patterns.

Kinda made me smile........  I guess I'm not the only one who loves and appreciates his work.

UPDATE

Well, it's been a long time since I posted.  Lots of stuff happening but I'm not going to bore you because you know me - Once I start talking I can go onnnnnnnnnnn and onnnnnnnnn and onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.......

Let's stick to the crafty stuff.
I have been very busy posting tons of Plastic Canvas and Cross Stitch pattern books on ArtFire.
225 active items so far and thousands more to add..... 
Whew..... This is a lot of work!!!!
March was a very good month for sales which ofcourse makes me very happy!!!!

I've also started stitching my own plastic canvas projects again. 
The sad part is I've started about 5 projects and haven't finished one.... 
I really need to work on getting some of this stuff finished....  Sigh.....

I've also created a Facebook Page for M.Y. Creative Rose Garden. 
So if you are reading this, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE go and "like" my page........ 
PLEASE!!!!!!!!!   (That's right, I am not too proud to beg... )

Well, I'm going back to listing more stuff on Artfire...... 
And you need to go check out the Shop: 
http://www.artfire.com/users/MYCREATIVEROSEGARDEN
And please go "Like" my Facebook Page:  
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/pages/MY-Creative-Rose-Garden/160132967379283


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WIZARDS OF WINTER

WOW......
I guess my little Wizard Guys are really loved on ArtFire.....
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1119217

They are now a part of a wonderful Collection called "The Wizards Of Winter"

Go check out the collection. :
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=8650



And check out ArtFire.

What a wonderful place......

:0)



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I'M A FEATURED ARTIST....... YAY!!!!

As you know I've been selling stuff on ArtFire but this week I had two very nice surprises.

1. - I am a "FEATURED ARTIST" on the Krafty Max Originals Blog:   http://kraftymax.blogspot.com/2010/10/wicked-wednesday_20.html


Yes, those are my cute little wizards!!!!
I feel so honored....... 
Thank You - Thank You - Thank You......

2. - I sold another instruction book.  I really hate to sell these because I alway think that one day I'll find time to create the projects in these books, but who are we kidding.....  I would have to live till I'm 1,000 to finish everything so needless to say, I need to put lots and lots of more books up for sale.....

If you have not checked out ArtFire yet, I strongly suggest that you do.....  http://www.artfire.com/
It's a wonderful place not only to buy but to showcase your art.
Here is a link to my store:  www.artfire.com/users/MYCREATIVEROSEGARDEN

PROVIDENCETOWN, MASSACHUSSETS

Bob has been telling me that he wanted to take me to Providencetown for years so for my Birthday he decided that we should take a day-trip up there.  We had such a good time. 
First stop was the Pilgrim Monument.  This was the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Monument.
We actually climbed aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall the way to the top.  Acording to their web site ( http://www.pilgrim-monument.org/ )  "The heart-healthy walk to the top on 116 steps and 60 ramps only takes about 10 minutes at a leisurely pace."   Are they kidding me????????  OMG I thought I was going to pass out!!!!!!!!!
Well, at least from the top of the tower I got some really great pictures -  Here are some, plus a picture of the staircase looking down from the top.......  - Uh...  Did I mention I'm scared of heights!!!!

After the Pilgrim Monument we went into the town where there is a strip of all sorts of stores.  It was fun to browse at everything in the stores but actually it was a lot of fun to browse at what was going on outside the stores......  Providencetown is a very popular place for homosexual couples.  There were several shows with men either wearing barely anything or dressed fully in drag.  I tried to get Bob to go see one of the shows but he wasn't going for it.... 
Well, at least I got a couple of pictures..........  LOL

Providencetown is definitely an interesting place.......

BIRTHDAY LUNCH & DINNER............ YUMMMMMMY!!!!!

One of the best things about birthdays is that people want to take you out to eat......   As far as I'm concerned, any food eaten while celebrating your birthday has absolutely no fat, no carbs and no calories.

Today Marge took Bobby and I out to an Italian restaurant right by my job.  Have wanted to try this place for years but never got around to it.  I am so glad we went there.  The food was delicious and the service was good.  Even talked to the owner about delivering lunches to our office - Cause lunch is certainly a high priority at our office.......
Thank you Marge.............

I was so full after lunch but ofcourse nothing was going to stop me from going out for Hibatchi with my friend - uh...  I mean my Sister Lori.  Lori and I have known each other since the third grade and no matter what life throws at us to try to keep us apart, Lori and I will always be friends.

Mmmmmm -  Hibachi  -  Yummmmmm

Thank you Lori......... 

BIRTHDAY IN NEW YORK CITY

So my birthday is just around the corner (August 3rd)  Yup.... 45

For my Birthday, my BFF Laura really surprised me....  She took me for a fun weekend in New York City.  We really dont live that far from the City but I hardly ever get to spend any time there and have never actually stayed over for the night.  This was truly a memorable weekend........

Train Ride to NYC
Cupcakes at Crumbs: http://www.crumbs.com/

Dinner at Bubba Gumps: http://www.bubbagump.com/

(We wont talk about my stupid over priced camera purchase in Times Square - I'm such an impulse buyer!)

Comedy Club: http://www.broadwaycomedyclub.com/
Late Nite Snacks at Planet Hollywood: http://www.planethollywoodintl.com/locations_newyork.php
Stay in NY hotel: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/nycmd-courtyard-new-york-manhattan-times-square-south/
Lunch at Grand Central Station: http: http://www.manhattanchili43.geomerx.com/
Train Ride back home.....

Weekend in NYC with BFF:   UNFORGETTABLE!!!!!!

THANK YOU LAURA!!!!!!!!!

UNCLE KRACKER - STAMFORD, CT

The City of Stamford, CT puts on some pretty good free concerts during the summer.  On Thursdays they have "Live At Five" and Bob usually goes to work for the City - They're the ones that get the fun job of putting away all the barriers that were set up during the day to block off several streets for these concerts.
He never really goes to the concerts, they just show up mostly after the crowds clear out.

This time Uncle Kracker was going to be there.  I LOVE UNCLE KRACKER.....
He sang so many great songs but my favorite part was when he did "Good To Be Me" followed up by "All Summer Long"

"All Summer Long" was my Summer Song last year and "Good To Be Me" is my Summer Song this year.
You can imagine how amazing it was for me to hear him singing those two songs one after the other....
YAY!!!!!!!!!

After the concert Bob stayed to work and I drove home with a HUGE smile on my face.
This was soooooooooo much FUN.......

DAMN, IT'S GOOD TO BE ME!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIDhtTrr2FQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwIGZLjugKA

TIKI BAR - Playland

Ever since I took the Tiki Hut Mini Book Class with Cheryl Mezzetti I've been trying to figure out what in the world I was going to use for pictures in that book....  I mean it's not like I"m going to be going to any tropical islands any time soon....  Sigh.......

Well, recently I heard that Playland has a new Tiki Bar.  Note - I absolutely can not stand Playland......
I know it is supposed to be a great amusement park but I have never been and probably never will be a fan of the place.  But a Tiki Bar??????? Now that is a different subject......  Especially when that Tiki Bar is right on the water and there is a live band playing great music.......  Ohhhhh Yeahhhhh...
http://pierrestaurantandtikibar.com/

Drinks
Buffalo Calamari

Live band
Summer breeze

Now all I have to do is actually get some pictures into my album........   LOL

CHA SNEAK PEAKS - Sigh...........

CHA = The Craft & Hobby Association Trade Show is coming up at the end of the month.
Everywhere you look you can see "Sneak Peaks" - Some great, some good, some not so good and some just plain What The Heck Were They Thinking!!!

Then I saw "MOONRISE" from SEI.......
Gorgeous..... Gorgeous..... Gorgeous........
The bottom three papers are very nice and I'll definitely get them but the top six......  Well they just make my heart skip a beat.....  Sigh........ 
If you want to see more SEI Sneek Peaks and great inspiration then click here for their blog: 
http://seilifestyle.blogspot.com/

CROPPING WITH FRIENDS

Hope you had a great weekend.

Mine was wonderful.  I spent Saturday at a Crop in Connecticut.

Cant say I got a lot accomplished - Not like a lot of the girls who whip out 10-20-30 scrapbook pages.

Nope, not me.  I didn't even do one.  What I did work on was a couple of simple cards and two mini books.
Still need to add some die cut flowers to the cards and need to do a LOT of embelishing of the mini books but hey, it's a start.......  
The best part of the day for me is never how much I get done - It's always about the fun I have with my friends........  This time I sat with Laura, Barbra, Jean, Rose and her daughter, and Barbara Z.
Ofcourse all the food is the second best part..........   OMG - I ate so much I thought I was going to pop.


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SIGNS........

I was just on Facebook and saw Marah Johnson's Status which read:  " It's hard to wait around for something that you know might never happen, but it's even harder to give up when you know it's everything you want."Well, I'm taking this quote as just one more sign that there are some serious changes that need to be made in my life......
I wish I could put into words what exactly those changes are but there are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many things to list.
Let's just say that I really need to figure out how I can be who I want to be....

So let's start here..........
Today is Friday - June 25th.......
There are 39 more days till August 3rd.......   - THAT IS MY 45th BIRTHDAY -  YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How do I know it's 39 more days??????  Cause I've been counting down - From 45 more days, to 44 more days, to 43 more days, etc..........
I've been planning on counting down till THE BIG DAY......
Then I plan on counting forward.........
Maybe I should say looking forward........
Because THAT is what I need to start doing -
LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING A BETTER ME......
LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING A TRUE ME........
"Be True To Yourself"......
Easier said then done - But it's time to try....

Okay people.........
We're in for a bumpy ride but here we go.........
Hopefully some of you who are reading this are willing to hang in there with me to help my on my little journey........   Cause some of you have heard me say it before and I'll say it one more time.......
THAT is who I need in my life  -  People who are there to inspire me, to encourage me, to tell me it's okay to just be ME..........

Hugs to those who are willing to be there.........
And
Kiss my ass to those who are not............



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I'M STILL HERE

Yikes..... It's been a LOOOOOONG TIME since I've posted....
BAD BLOGGER!!!!!
BAD BLOGGER!!!!!

Sorry about that......
Will need to come and spend some time......

Please stay tuned.....,

Thanks!!!

:0)

AND THE WINNER IS..........

And the winner of the Spring Flower R.A.K. is.........................






KRISTIE MEEKER!!!!!!!!!!



Yay Kristie,

Send me an e-mail with your address & I'll get those flowers right out to you.



:0)

SPRING - EARTH HOUR - FLOWERS - OH MY.......

Oh my aching back.......
I just spent the entire morning working in the garden.  Pruning roses, raking dead stuff from last year, cutting back pesky vines that want to take over the world......... 
It's a lot of work but it will have it's rewards once everything starts blooming.
I already have a few daffodils blooming and the hyacinths and tulips are coming up fast.

So...........   Just to remind you.
TONIGHT is when I'm going to give away a set of my hand made flowers.
Right after Earth Hour.
Yes, Earth Hour is tonight.........
So right after I turn on the computer again I will be giving them away.
Send me an e-mail to YARASAVICH@AOL.COM with "Spring Flowers" as the subject line and I'll enter your name to win these pretty flowers.

HAPPY SPRING!!!!! = And a RAK...........

Ah, Spring..........   Who doesn't LOVE Spring????   A time for new beginnings.  A time for all things beautiful.  I am so looking forward to watching my garden starting to bloom with all the flowers that my Mother had planted in our garden.  She was the green thumb of the family.  She and my grandfather.

Me, well........  Not so much........   But I try.  I HAVE TO TRY......  I can not let the garden go completely.  Ofcourse it will never be like it was when my Mother cared for it and nurtured it.  I doubt that I will ever win trophies like she did.  But still the blooms will come and they will bring joy to anyone who takes the time to enjoy them...........

It is with great sadness that I now have to face a big change in the garden.  There is a tree in our back yard that has been there as long as I can remember.  It was a mature tree when we bought the house in 1975. (The picture of the tree in full bloom is from a Polaroid which was probably taken in the 80's or maybe late 70's)  This poor tree is now looking very, very, very pitiful........   The second picture is how the tree looked this morning.  Several branches broke under the weight of the huge snow we recently had and I am afraid it will never be the same again.  The third picture is of the tree after most of the broken branches were cut off.........
I will wait till later this year to see if anything blooms and will make a decision at the end of the year to see if I must cut it down completely.


But we must move on........  IT IS SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!  A time for new beginning.....  A time for joy......  A time for beauty.........  





Oh........   Did I mention there would be a RAK????

Lately I've been seeing just about everyone making hand made flowers for their scrapbooks and art projects.  Some have me absolutely speecless!!!
I'd love to share with you the flowers I've been making the last couple of weeks.
These little Needlepoint On Plastic Canvas flowers may not be anything fancy but I think they are very cute.  They can ofcourse be dressed up with the addition of pearls or buttons or glitter or anything else your heard desires.  I've just been too preoccupied in makeing the basic flower to go any further.
Please drop by my shop on ArtFire to see the flowers I have up for sale:  http://www.artfire.com/users/MYCREATIVEROSEGARDEN

So in honor of the first day of Spring, I'd love to share a few of these flowers with you.
Just send me an E-mail to Yarasavich@AOL.com with "SPRING FLOWERS" as the subject line and I will put your name into a basket.  On March 27th I'll pick one winner and they will receive the flowers shown in this picture. 

What are you waiting for?????
Send me an E-mail so maybe you can win these cute flowers.


HAPPY SPRING!!!!!!!


....

THE SHOP IS OPEN

I finally started an account with Artfire.  (Thanks Laura for telling me about this site)

PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT CORNER OF MY BLOG.
Or just go here: http://www.artfire.com/users/MYCREATIVEROSEGARDEN

Okay - So far it is nothing to be impressed with I guess but all good things start with a single step, right???

Hey, and how do you like my new banner???  Thank you again Laura for helping me out.

If anyone needs a good - make that GREAT - web designer, contact Laura:
http://www.laurahartwigdesign.com/



Now I've just got to take some more pictures of my crafts and my craft supplies and start posting, posting, posting......... 
And hopefully SELLING, SELLING, SELLING!!!!
WISH ME LUCK...............






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AS SEEN ON TV

QVC - HSN - Late Nite Infomercials...........

I remember yelling at my Mom because she was constantly watching QVC and HSN. Between her and the lady a few houses down, the UPS Man was on our block practically every day.....

Okay, Okay..... So the apple does not fall far from the tree........
Yeah, I admit it. I've been known to buy stuff (a whole lot of stuff) purely on impulse.

Today I was going through some boxes and look what I found: The GT Express 101 machine.


When the heck did I buy this thing??????
WHY the heck did I buy this thing????????????????



I have no clue but here it is.
Now what do I do with it???????

Maybe I'll get some refridgerated cinnamon rolls, bake them in my handy dandy machine and watch QVC..........

No...... Wait.... Maybe I'd just better get back to cleaning.
Lord knows what I'll find next!!!!!!!!!!

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