from these hands...: October 2011

Friday, October 28, 2011

Baking for the Troops

First off...weather update...

remember ~ last week:

One week later! Whoa!!

Baking for the Troops...
My friend, Kathy, saw in the local paper an event for Baking for the Troops...link here

Grounded in a philosophy that every member of the US Military deserves a homemade care package of baked goods as a reminder of our love, support, and appreciation for their commitment to our country, Baking for the Troops was established in 2009 in Denver, Colorado, by a dedicated civilian with a deep love and respect for the members of America's armed forces...

Our efforts are especially aimed at members of our armed forces who don't have dedicated friends and family at home to send them care packages. That's where Baking for the Troops comes in, as a second family to crank up the ovens and fill the gap so every service member has a taste of home during their deployment...

So, we decided to participate in this event...on the first snowy night of the season, Kathy and I headed out to the location and walked into a very nice building that was donated for the evening.

CADA Building

The smell of brownies wafting from the kitchen put us in the mood to put on our (cute) aprons and lend a helping hand. The CADA Building has a full large kitchen and another large area that Baking for the Troops had all the supplies needed to send brownies neatly wrapped, bowed, and with a hand-written thank you card placed into a postage box and off to a well deserved person in the service.

Kathy and I both realize how fortunate we are in our lives and feel it is a wonderful thing to give back in some way...and giving back to our troops is one fabulous way!

Melissa started this project in 1999 and has been very successful!!

more info here

Even though it was a snowy night, she had a nice turn out, we met new people and enjoyed our experience.

Brownies ready to be cut and packaged


Dishing up the brownies! YUM YUM!

Melissa has this down to a science, so the brownies are wrapped still a bit warm and arrive fresh and moist- imagine what a treat this would be!


Brownies wrapped with personalized card ready to be put into the shipping box

We may not all be able to participate in an event like this but it does at least give you a moment to be thankful for what you have.

Appreciation is the highest form of prayer,
for it acknowledges the presence of good
wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts.
Alan Cohen

Friday, October 21, 2011

Fall around ROotie

As I was driving to work, I was thinking about what to write about in this weeks blog...lost in thought...I "opened" my eyes and noticed all the beautiful colors around me...fall.

Up the street from ROotie

Looking up into the tree

Looking Down at the fallen leaves

Fall...autumn...next to Spring, I love fall- the colors, the food- pumpkin soup! recipe here

It is the time to gather for winter...gather as in projects to do inside...to nest. Sounds like it is time for a little wool needlefelting from my new Japanese Book! more info here

Japanese Mascot Collection ISBN 978-4-309-28168-1

Hummm- off dreaming about felting...back to around ROotie


Three Pumpkins

Beautiful plum-colored leaves within gold

Shadow cast from red leaves


Ha! not Issy, but could this of been any better of a set-up? The world works it's magic!

Cute yellow house under a golden tree

In the school yard, fall leaves shading the planets!

So fall...it is here, we all get so busy pushing through our days, we are so focused on the next thing (I am SO guilty of that)...take one moment today and notice one thing from nature...all of a sudden you will notice how many of your chosen thing is around...I could of taken photos of fall leaves all day!!


Just a reminder to STOP and observe...and another reminder of Mexico- you all know how I love to go to Mexico!!

Friday, October 14, 2011

New Books from Japan!

While I was away in CA teaching, my dearest friend Dorice took me to a Japanese Book Store...now you all know how much I love love...ok...LOVE Japanese craft books. This was such a special treat for me. This store Kinokuniya Bookstore was jammed pack full of Japanese items, books, and magazines!! Yes- over whelming as I stood in front of thousands and thousands of craft books!!

I have also found they have an online shop (link here) have patience...there is a button for English and it will take some searching but well worth it if you are into this kind of thing!! Also by this site offers these books at approximately a $10 savings!

I have more links below for information and one of my favorite sellers on e-bay and etsy.

Here are the books I purchased: