Year: 2015

Annual Krautfest Time

/ Jodi / 65 Comments

pumpkins

For our gang, one of the best things about Autumn is the Annual Brugnoli Friends and Family Krautfest (maybe you remember last year’s), and this past weekend delivered beautiful weather for our festivities!

We started with a crisp, foggy morning that included a beautiful breakfast buffet at Sandy and Bill’s, where most of the gang hung out to watch the annual Conneaut Lake Fall Festival Parade (and the rest of us served as candy passer-outers and parade marchers for our Boro Council candidate, dear “Oh Rob” Brugnoli.

parade 1

parade 2

kf rob boro council

parade 3

After the parade, we hurried home to prepare for the Kraut-making festivities.  Halupkis and Pierogies and Brauts and Dogs in Kraut simmering, while we set up stations to make 800 pounds worth of cabbage into the world’s best homemade saurkraut in the warm Autumn sunshine.

Stations were set up… and then began…

the cutting…

kf cutters 4

and the slicing and shredding…

kf shredders

then measuring and weighing…

kf louis and louise

kf measuring

(…and always time for a mother-daughter pose)…

kf cindy louise
kf dumping 2kf scooping

then finally stomping and pounding.

kf pounding

and laughing…

kf all betsy carl stomping laughing

and composting.
kf compostkf cutters 2

 

 

 

 

Older generations taught younger generations…

kf roddy mason

kf cutting more

kf nikole shreddingkf cuttersand friends taught friends.

kf holly slices

kf holly

More laughs…
kf joyce holly

kf rob and al

kf joyce holly laughs

lots of hugs… and giving thanks.

kf rob hug

kf rob speech

 

 

 

Pumpkins were painted…

kf painting pumpkins

 

kf painting pumpkins 3

kf painting pumpkins 2

 

&
kf kids painting pumpkins

Swings were swung…

kf kids swing

and laughter filled the air.
kf kids swing 2

Treasures were searched for…
kf kids hay

and discovered.

kf ella treasure skeleton

kf kids hay skeleton find

Lots of delicious food was eaten…

kf pretzels

kf food 1

and YES – these cookies consist of three amazing layers: chocolate chip cookie topped with Oreo cookie topped with brownie!

kf brownies

Delicious, intoxicating beverages were enjoyed.

kf bourbon apple cide

kf joyce linda
Hot peppers were sauteed and served on fresh crusty bread by friendly “witches” and warlocks.

kf doreen peppers

Families were celebrated.

kf jenna rob noah

 

kf noah

kf ed grandaughter 2

 

kf michael beer 2

We even brewed beer!

kf michael beer

 

 

 

 

 

and BOWLED!

krautfest bowling

It was a day full of memories… and moments…

krautfest greenhouse

and people… and music…

kf bango

and love… to be cherished.

kf view of lake
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Pink Zinnia Bluez

/ Jodi / 50 Comments

pink zinnia

Last week I posted a photo of a zinnia that seemed like it was just begging to be painted, and I couldn’t wait to give it a go!

One evening, I printed the photo and lightly drew it in pencil using my lightbox – a great tool for us beginners who so often struggle with the drawing part.  (Well – let’s face it – I often struggle with ALL the parts!)

I gave it a light water wash and first glaze of pink before quitting for the evening, as I am trying to learn patience and allowing drying time to achieve more complex watercolor paintings.

When my friend, Janet was over one evening, she asked to see what art I’ve been up to.  When she saw the beginning of the zinnia, she said it would be a great post to show progress photos of the steps I go through.

Yes – great idea, Jan….   but I haven’t really figured out what steps I go through really!

Anyway – Charlie and I arose early the next morning – around 5:30am – and I decided to give my zinnia another coat.  Well – that led to another, and then a disaster, followed by another disaster and a third disaster.

I kept re-trying to reproduce with watercolor what I had envisioned in my head.

Now I am one to promote that it is all about the journey – all about the process – but sometimes I just want to do it perfect – do it right – do it beautiful —- and alas, it wasn’t happening with this beautiful pink zinnia.

This was my fifth effort of it, and I got to where I gave up.  It is not even close to what I had envisioned, though somewhat pleasing…  at least compared to the first four efforts!  I tried wet on wet, wet on dry, sketch first, sketch after, no sketching…

But WHY can I not reproduce on paper what is in my head?!

This is where I call out for support and advice from my artist friends.

Please offer your wisdom.

I obviously tend to “overwork” it.

Watercolor is something I’ve just had this urging to pursue.  I’ve watched a few YouTube videos, perused a few books, and follow some amazing bloggers, but I have no formal training and no artistic experience.

I would so appreciate anyone who would be willing to offer their top advice for a wannabee watercolorist!

I am writing this a few days ahead of when it will post, so who knows where my head will be when this posts.  But I so look forward to your tips and advice, and hope to be feeling a little better about my watercolor journey by the time you read this.

Can the encourager seek some encouragement this time please?   😉

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Maple Leaf Birthday Card

/ Jodi / 26 Comments

PP266

It’s a color challenge at The Paper Players this week, and the colors are “cucumber crush” green, “crushed curry” gold, and “real red.”

I took a bit of a different twist with them for my Design Team inspiration card this week.

For my card, I took sponge daubers and dotted a sheet of very vanilla card stock with all three colors to pretty much completely cover it.  I then heat embossed maple leaves in white over top it, allowing the colors to seep through like Autumn leaves.  I then sponged Memento black ink over the entire thing, and rubbed it off the embossed parts with a baby wipe to give this dramatic masculine effect.

PP266 2

I layered this on top of real red and crushed curry card stock to frame it.

On a strip of vellum, I heat embossed Happy Birthday in black, wrapped it around and glued underneath, adhered to a very vanilla base, and added three black candy dot embellishments.  Oh – and a Wink of Stella 😉 to give it a bit of sparkle that you cannot see in the photo, but adds just a nice shimmer and festive spirit to the card.

PP166 inside

I added another green maple leaf on the inside, and this is a birthday card for my dear oldest son, Jake, who turns 28 this week!   Where did the time go?!  Seems like yesterday I held you in my arms for the first time.  One of the best days of my life!  Love you Jake!  More than you could possibly know! ❤

Hope my stamping and paper crafting friends will join us at The Paper Players this week and you were inspired to create something from my post.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Stamp Sets Used:

  • StampinUp Big Day Stamp Set for Happy Birthday sentiment
  • Inkadinkadoo Maple Leaf Stamp

The kind of day…

/ Jodi / 17 Comments

waterfall in creek franklin pa

Wishing you the kind of day
that offers you the time to ponder
the things that touch your heart,
that stretch and broaden your mind.

The kind of day
that allows you to recognize
the beautiful surprises –
whether simple or profound

that are right before your eyes,
singing in your ears,
pleasing to your nose,
soft to your touch,
warming to your heart,
soothing to your soul.

Cherish the moments
that are just waiting
to be discovered
today
and
every day
at life in between.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Charlie’s Ribfest

/ Jodi / 63 Comments

charlie 102015

I was in big trouble the other day this past week, friends!
But I have to tell you —- It was SO WORTH it!
And besides… Mom isn’t really that tough.  She tries to be mad and mean and tell me when I am bad…
but when I give her the sad, sorry look – guess what?
She believes it! (Can YOU tell how sorry I am from the look in my face above here?)

So Mom had some ribs thawing on the counter early in the morning getting ready to be dry rubbed and roasted all day in the oven for dinner.

While they were on the counter, she was in her office on one of those conference calls she does for work.

Now – I never let her see me do this, but – –  if I really need to, I can reach up onto the kitchen counter — especially when something smells as good as RIBS! So – while she was distracted, I swooped up and snagged about a pound of the three pounds she had thawing and swiftly sped out the doggy door.

ribs

Here is what some of the ones looked like that I couldn’t grab in time.
O M G Friends!  They were TOO DIE FOR!  Even in their semi-frozen state.

Mom caught me when I was down to about two ribs and she tried chasing me around the yard for them, but I wasn’t giving in on this one, and we ran circles around the yard while I continued gripping and gnawing at my final ribs.

When I was done, I finally came to her, licking my lips, and looking at her like:
“Did you call me?”

Here I am!”  (teeheehee)

I had my own Charlie’s RibFest!

And yep – I got in trouble,
but yep – it was also worth it!
Just sayin’….

Do you ever have tough decisions to make like that? You know you shouldn’t… You know you are going to get in trouble… but you know it’ll be ok in the end.

And this is how I spent most of the afternoon.

charlie after ribs

It’s a dog’s life – (happy sigh)…

Anybody having ribs tonight at their house?  I’m available!

Woofs & Wags,
Charlie

Charlie is an adopted dog with brown eyes and a white-tipped tail who brings joy and laughter to his family and friends.  Charlie is a gifted writer, raving food critic, cat, chipmunk, and donut lover, and exceptionally photogenic model.  Some of his best friends are Mike the UPS Man, Cliff the Mailman, and ANYONE who delivers pizza to the house.   If you would like to read more guest posts by Charlie, simply type “Charlie” into the Search box at the top right hand corner of this link: thecreativelifeinbetween.com.   If you would enjoy a companion like Charlie, please consider pet adoption.

Happy Birday

/ Jodi / 44 Comments

Happy Birday whimsical bird

Once a month, a group of us bloggers celebrate Bird Day – draw a bird, paint a bird, photograph a bird….. on the 8th of the month.  So Happy Bird Day!

I was having fun with it this month and wanted to send our special hostess, Laura, at CreateArtEveryday a belated birthday card.  Since I missed it last week, this one is belated for her birthday, but just in time for “birday!”  This one was inspired by the amazing whimsical artistry of stressiecat.

Then I saw a cute little drawing of some simple birds on Pinterest that inspired the little card below that I sent to my BFF Jill in honor of some big news in our families that she is going to be a first-time grandma.  We are SO excited!

a little birdie told me card

This last one was a struggle, and I need to try again. I saw a tutorial of a watercolor robin done by Welsh artist Alison Fennell.  I’ll have to keep working on the robin!

robin watercolor card

So Happy #BirdDay!  Enjoy the birds that are around you – whether real, drawn, painted, or photographed – and chirp, tweet and sing, because tomorrow is Friday!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

#DrawaBirdDay

Break of Dawn

/ Jodi / 38 Comments

pink conneaut lake at dawn

At one of my favorite places in the whole wide world…

shovels in the greenhouse at dawn

mostly because I am with some of my favorite people in the entire universe…

rusty sun grapevine wreath

I arose at the break of dawn…

sunflowers at dawn

to bask in the beauty…

zinnia at dawn

and to cherish the moments.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Apricot Chocolate Chip Scones

/ Jodi / 28 Comments

apricot chocolate chip scones

I love waking up early on weekend mornings.
After all, it means extra hours in my weekend!

This past Sunday, I got up before anyone else was awake and basked in the moments of pre-dawn with freshly-brewed coffee and Italian Sweet Cream, the opportunity to paint, and the chance to bake something yummy for breakfast before anyone was awake, so they could rise to the smells and tastes of fresh baked scones.

Awwhh!  This is my happy place….

apricot chocolate chip scones 2jpg

Scones are quick and easy and so delish!
They throw together quickly and bake in 15 minutes.

These Apricot Chocolate Chip Scones were well  received by the sleepy eyes waking up at our house.

Slather them with a little butter or dunk them in your coffee or tea, and you may have found nirvana….  just sayin’.

Here’s the recipe.  Enjoy!

Apricot Chocolate Chip Scones

Ingredients:apricot chocolate chip scones

  • 2/3 cup butter
  • 3 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped dried apricots
  • 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • coarse raw sugar for topping (optional)

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  cut in butter with pastry blender until crumbly.
  • Stir in apricots and chocolate chips.
  • Add eggs, half and half and vanilla, and mix until soft dough forms.
  • Turn dough onto floured surface and knead lightly.
  • For dough into rectangle approximately 15 inches wide by 4 inches high.  Cut in half, then each half in half, and each half in half again until you have 8 equal sections.  Cut each section in diagonal until you have 16 triangular sections.
  • Placed on baking stones or greased baking sheets.
  • Brush top of each with a little more half and half and sprinkle with coarse raw sugar if desired.
  • Bake approximately 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

PS  You might also like my “almost famous” Cinnamon Chip Scones.  Click here for the recipe.  They are an all-time fave!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Monday – October 5 Cookies and a Elephant

/ Jodi / 8 Comments

WOOHOO! Look what Sharon painted at Monday Tuesday Wednesday? She is such an amazing artist, and she PAINTED a stack of my honey oatmeal raisin cookies! Aren’t they gorgeous! THANK YOU Sharon! I love it!! Check out her other amazing artwork too! She posts every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday – and I think you will be blown away!

Beyond the Boundaries

/ Jodi / 20 Comments

lake drive franklin pa

Boundaries…

sometimes you have to break them.

Like yesterday…

Hubby and I went on a Sunday drive to Franklin, PA to the Annual Franklin AppleFest.

It was lovely….  crowded… lots of arts and crafts, food, antique and classic cars…

But the real treat of the day was on our ride home.

The road said, “No Outlet – Turn Around Here.”

Hubby knew better…
and we drove on…
beyond the boundaries.
And we came upon scenes like this.

Sometimes you have to break the boundaries.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi