We'll Miss You Eric

I'm a little down in the dumps because we took our son, Eric, to the airport.  He is returning to Spain to teach for another school year.  Eric teaches conversational English to grade school students and he loves it.  You can follow his blog here where he journals about his adventures.

I took this photo of our daughter,Amber and Eric last night.  We fixed a big dinner so he could enjoy one more really nice American meal before he returned to Spain.  I also made him pumpkin pie since he won't be here for Thanksgiving or Christmas again this year.  Believe it or not, he and his friend Cody, made a really nice Thankgiving dinner for their friends in Spain last year.  They had to special order a turkey and were asked by the butcher if they wanted the head cut off. 

We wish you another fantastic fun filled year Eric!  God Bless!!

If you haven't already signed up for my giveaway, check out my previous post and make sure to follow the directions.  You must leave your comment on that post and leave me an email address if you don't have a blog.  I've been asked where to put the email address and you simply put it in with your comment.  I must have a way to contact the winner.  Thanks everyone for all the sweet comments and for following my blog!

Yeah! A Giveaway!!

Yeah!! I've reached 200 followers!  To celebrate, I'm giving away this 6" x 6" cupcake painting titled

"Mocha Cupcakes"

A worn and stained recipe is the background for this coffee flavored mocha dessert. Milk chocolate frosting also flavored with a hint of espresso is swirled on top of the cupcake. Chocolate sprinkles add the finishing touch. This yummy creation is wrapped in an aqua and red paper liner. A tiny red bow is glued to the cupcake and a red and white dotted ribbon is wrapped around the edges.

To win this little "calorie free" piece of artwork leave a comment on this post.  I've had a lot of people ask me how to do this and you simply proceed to the end of this post and at the bottom it will have a tiny link that says "comment".  Just move your cursor over the word comment and click.  Please leave me your email address if you don't have a blog link or I won't be able to contact you.  If you don't leave your email address, I will have to draw again and go on to the next person.   Your email will only be used to contact the winner.  I don't share or sell email addresses.

For a second chance to win, link to this post on your blog or facebook and then come back and leave another comment letting me know you have done this. 

For a third chance to win, become a follower here or on facebook and then leave another comment letting me know.

If you are already a follower comment again to inform me for another chance.

Deadline is Oct. 1st.  I will announce the winner on Oct. 2nd.

Guess what else?  I've finished my fall painting and it's now up for bid on ebay.

"Annual Barn Dance and Hayride"

The “10th Annual Autumn Ban Dance & Hayride” is in full swing at the Morton homestead. Karen and Howard look forward to entertaining friends and family with a hoedown in the barn each fall. Their three strong sons, Rickie, Jerry, and Bob, help their father prepare the day ahead by carving pumpkins and placing hay bales inside the barn for seating. Jack o lanterns glow from the windows guiding happy guests to the large red barn. Mom spends the day making huge kettles of chili and a hearty beef stew to serve to her guests. She always has an appetizing meal spread out on picnic tables covered with country red and white checked table cloths. Kid’s eyes glaze over at the sight of candied apples, popcorn balls, cookies & pies. Lucy, the Morton’s daughter, serves up a pretty smile along with some hot spiced cider to the boys standing in line hoping to ask her to dance. No one goes home hungry after this party!

The children enjoy bobbing for apples and hayrides while moms and dads swing their partners across the hay strewn dance floor. Effie, the family cat and her new babies watch the entertainment from a hay bale outside the doorway and try to stay out from under foot while one of the kittens tries to sneak in the side door. Every year the party tends to grow as news spreads throughout the village about this fun filled event!

Crocheted Bag

Last Wednesday evening during craft night, this is what I worked on:

You can find the complete instructions for this bag at Lucy's blog Attic24 (my favorite new blog find).  I actually like her colors better, but couldn't find them when I went shopping at Michaels.  I will have to make another one with her vibrant color combination.  I haven't had this much fun crocheting in a long time!   You'll not only like Lucy's crochet patterns, but also her cute way with words. I feel like I'm in the UK sitting there visiting with her over a cup of her tea while we chat about yarn.

This bag is great for toting my yarn around.  I think I'll make me a scarf with the remainder of these colors.

Autumn Folk Art Painting

I'm having so much fun with my newest folk art scene.  I've had the windows open and there is the perfect cross breeze flowing through my paint room with nice cool temperatures.  This painting and the weather gives me the inkling to whip up some warm pumpkin bread.  I love this breezy, drizzly weather!  Autumn is definitely on the way and I couldn't be more ready.  Don't you simply love "sweater weather"?

Here's the next stage in this new painting:

Most of this painting is finished.  I still need to add what I call the icing on the cake....the beautiful blazing autumn trees and falling leaves.  Some white fencing would be nice too.  Have you got any ideas?

You can click on the photo for a closer view.

Once I get 200 followers, I will celebrate with a giveaway so keep watching.   Thanks to all my followers and those who leave comments.  I wish I had time to answer all my comments, but that wouldn't leave me much time for painting.  I do appreciate that you take the time from your busy schedules to read my blog.  If you have any comments about what you'd like for me to post in the future, please leave me a comment or send me an email. 

Three Folk Art Farm Scenes Create Wallpaper Border

I have three paintings that were accepted by a wallpaper company for a border design.  I'm not sure when it will be available, but I'll keep you posted.  For now, these three paintings are up for auction on eBay. 

Two of them are paintings that I'd previously done and the one in the middle is a new design that joins the two.  The first one is "Cat Nap".

The new one is "Betty and Oreo"

and the third one is "Till the Cows Come Home".

The three paintings are being sold together in one auction.  If they don't go together, I will then sell then separately.  I would love to see them go as a set.

All three are also available as prints which are sold individually.

Recipes and Another Stage in my Autumn Painting

I'm still working on this painting:

It's a little slower progression because of all the people in this painting.  You can click on the photos for a closer view.

A few readers have asked me for the recipes from a previous post.  The Jello Salad can be found on the blog Mennonite Girls Can Cook.  This is one of my favorite blogs and where I find alot of wonderful recipes.

"Slow-Cooked Pull Pork"

1 T. oil

3-1/2 to 4-lb. boneless pork shoulder roast, netted or tied

10-1/2 oz. can French onion soup

1 c. catsup

1/4 c. cider vinegar

2 T. brown sugar, packed

12 sandwich rolls, split

Brown roast in oil on all sides and then place in crock pot.  Mix remaining ingredients, except rolls, and pour over roast.  Cook on low for 8-10 hrs. (I cook mine overnight)  Discard string and shred meat with a fork or fingers. Spoon sauce from pan over top or serve with your favorite BBQ sauce.

"Coconut Cream Pie"

2 c. milk

2/3 c. sugar

1/4 c. cornstarch

1/4 t. salt

3 egg yolks, beaten

2 T. margarine

1/2 t. vanilla extract

1-1/2 c. sweetened flaked coconut, divided

9-inch pie crust, baked

Cook milk, sugar, cornstarch and salt in a saucepan over med. heat until thickened.  Cook for 2 additional min. stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.  Stir a small amount of this mixture into egg yolks.  Pour yolks back into saucepan and simmer for 2 minutes.  Add margarine, vanilla, and one cup coconut and pour into crust.  Spread meringue over pie and seal edges.  Sprinkle remainer of coconut on top of pie.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 min. 

Meringue:

4 egg whites

7-oz jar marshmallow creme

Beat egg whites with electric mixer on high until very stiff peaks form.  Add marshmallow creme and beat for 4 minutes.

Barn Dance and Hayride Folk Art Painting

Working in the studio....

I'll share again when it's finished.