Sunday desserts...

As usual I made a dessert to take to Sunday dinner at the kids' house.  This week it was a Strawberry Lemonade Layer Cake by Easybaked.  It was easy and turned out very pretty.  The kids thought the frosting was a little too tart, and I would probably adjust it a little if I make it again.

I also took Asparagus Tomato and Avocado Salad.  When we had asparagus with them a couple of weeks ago, Beau was unhappy that Kasey prefers it overcooked, and so always makes it that way.  I love the cooked-but-with-a-tender-crunch texture of the asparagus when cooked as the salad recipe directs, so I knew he would appreciate that about it.  He's a good son-in-law, and he doesn't like sweets, so I like to take a dessert alternative especially for him occasionally.  :)

5 things Friday...

My week in a snapshot...or five snapshots.

Monday: Listening to an NPR story piqued my interest to look up the journalist online.  I'll bet people don't forget her name...though they may forget it on their shopping list.

Tuesday:  Quiet day at work...made a couple of cards (actually stationery) using copy paper and clip art.

Wednesday:  Another quiet day, so I kept a sheet of graph paper handy to sketch out an idea for some quilt blocks.  I blurred them below...just in case I decide to do something with them someday.

Thursday:  Though Chloe's theater class is over for the school year, we decided we would still like to hang out together on Thursday afternoons.

Friday:  Carey's truck radio was not factory installed, and there was no manual included when he bought the truck.  Today I took a photo of it so that I would remember to look online for a manual to download, because the nonsensical scrolling messages it flashes drive me nuts.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Miramont's Ghost by Elizabeth Hall

Prickly posies...

For eleven months of the year, cactus displays a lusterless appearance and lethal spines ...

but come Springtime...

its blooms...

paint my world...

with prism bursts.

Saturday snail mail...

My endeavor to mail 52 letters in 52 weeks continues.

I found that I had quite a few card photos stacking up, so it's time for a bit of a Saturday snail mail catch up.

The latest group were inspired by Lori Vliegen watercolors.

I figured if I could do birdies, then I could do posies too.

 I actually disassembled the following one, trimmed it down, added a stamped message, and then reassembled it in another way and used it as my mother-in-law's Mother's Day card...I just forgot to take a photo of it finished, so what you see is actually the before.

I had also made a few previously that were mailed out in April.

I found the images of the blue and white plates online and printed them out on watercolor paper.  Then I cut them out and placed them on a lace-lined 'shelf' on a kraft card base.

And then I was inspired by Amethyst Designs...hers were stamped and then white embossed on kraft paper.  I used a white gel pen to doodle some flowers on kraft cards.

There were quite a few mailed that I didn't get photos of.

Accountability stats: 19 weeks / 21 letters

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Yea!  I finally made it to the top of the reserve list for this library ebook!  I think when I reserved it there were sixty-four people in front of me.  :)

Tip of the week...

This tip is another one that saves fingernails/manicures.  I have terribly weak nails, so anything that can save me a tear or break is welcome information.

Step 1:  Staple puller

Step 2: Insert teeth in the split of your key ring. 

 Step 3: Insert or remove key.

Best.  Tip.  Ever.