Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011-The Year in Books

Ok, last walk down the 2011 memory lane. Today I will review my favorite reads  this year. I will say...I had a hard time finding books I just adored this past year-there were some I really liked-it was a hot and cold kind of year in the book department- but maybe I just picked a lot of good books but not great books to read this past year.
So here we go:
Best Nonfiction reads
I just adore reading about this woman. What a life!
The Origin (Signet)
My present read-fascinating
Product Details
This was a great read---heartwarming
What a fascinating multi-level story
Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild
I found this book fascinating. Books like this really open your eyes to what it was like in different times. My kind of history.
Product Details
I love this author- and this book is about science-A+
Best Travel reads
Rick Steve's writes fantastic travel books, especially for someone who enjoys Europe as much as I do.
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theme trips are great-want to take a lot more of them in 2012
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Not so bad a read
Best cookbooks
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I love to bake and eat sweets-this has so many fantastic recipes- I even got it at T.J. Maxx for $12.99-how can you go wrong
The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook: 150 Delicious Recipes Using Only Foods from the World's Greatest Grocery Store
These are great cookbooks-love the 3 I have!!!!!
Product Details
Not a new cookbook for me but I've used this a lot to try several new chili recipes
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home
Got this for Christmas and am ready to try some of these recipes
Nigella Christmas: Food Family Friends Festivities
Also, still using the Nigella Larson books a lot too, not new to me but enjoy them...
Best fiction
I read a couple from this series which I seriously enjoyed. Think its time to read another one-once I finish my recent book.
The Eight
Great summer beach read

I enjoyed this series a lot, but then I discovered the author passed away so we will never know what will happen.
Sizzling Sixteen (Stephanie Plum)
Always a light and fun read
Product Details
This one was wat better than the last one
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A good summer read
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rereading it now and it is as good as when I first read ages ago

Best art books
Product Details
Not much jumping out in my brain for 2011-I cut WAY back on my art book purchases and except for a couple, I can't really remember those that stood out to me. This Martha Stewart holiday book has some great ideas-as she always does
Interactive Cards (Annie's Attic)
I did get a couple of pop-up card books and have been little by little playing around with pop-ups.
But my pick is my discovery is Craft Stamper magazine. Not just this issue!


And I still love this magazine.

I don't think for me, 2011 was an outstanding book year. I hope 2012 is though.
Think I need to be a better recorder of books this upcoming year on my blog.

And-since today is the last day of 2011-
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
I wish you all a happy new year.
I'll be back with new art and no more year wrap up lists, but does feel good to look back and take stock.
Don't know what I'll do to end this year, maybe I'll just roll into 2012 without doing anything much.
Have had a great week off...
some studio time
some relaxing time
reading
watching another mini-series-John Adams
went beach walking one day
took a road trip to Maine one day-did some shopping at LL Bean
went to a UNH/Brown hockey game
and got my kitchen cabinets re-organized
it's all good

Happy December 31 and I'll be back next year- (LOL)

Friday, December 30, 2011

Ok-working more on my 2012 Bucket List

Instead of a ten things Friday list this week, I will continue to work on and rework my goal list/bucket list/wish list for next year
2011 2012WISH list!

1- Practice my French some more-did it but still want to do more
2-Make ice cream and more types of chili
3-Get my studio clean and organized-did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4-Clean out under the cellar stairs and get the junk there organized
5-Catch up on my reading
6-Knit a WHOLE sweater
7-Go to the Isles of Shoals
8- Visit the Victoria and Albert Museum in London
9-Learn to use Encaustic Paints
10-Go for 1 whole month without buying any art supplies
11-See Death Valley  did it!!!!!!
12-Go to Canada'a Atlantic Provinces
13-Go dancing with my honey
14-Grow pumpkins in my garden
15-Pick rhubard from my garden and make a strawberry rhubard pie
16-Watch the entire 2 seasons we have of True Blood in one day -and see Season 3  did it!!!!!!!!
17- Go camping again
18-Finish my summer vacation 2009 scrapbook did it!!!!!
19-Make more textile art-can always do it
20-Do a piece of embroidery
21-Pay off those nagging little credit card balances
22-Get a new Apple computer-don't want one now
23-Keep a visual journal more regulary
24-Knit an Aran sweater -but did several hats in a fair isle style
25-Knit Norwegian style socks or mittens
26-Exercise more
27- Replant dill in my garden this year
28-take a class about something I am totally unfamilar with
29-reread the other Jane Austin novels I haven't read in decades
30-be more patient and forgiving with my mom
31- find the box of vintage honeymoon emphemera my mom gave me and make a vintage travel book
32-Take a roadtrip all by myself
33-Eat a fried twinky or fried candy bar
34-Go back to the very northern area of NH where I used to vacation as a kid with my family
35-Go to Montreal
36-Drive across the USA
37-Visit my friends in North Carolina   did this
38-See a hummingbird nest with the eggs in it
39-Get more stamps in my National Park Passbook-did it and want more for this year
40-Be brave and become a paid artist--did it-with my first craftshow but want to do more
41-Make cool jewelry using all the metal clay pendants I've made
42-Walk to beach more
43-Get into the sunshine more
44-Take a few more hookey days from work-without the guilt
45-Take one of those DNA tests that tell you where in the world your family roots are from
46-Read a book on my new iPad
47-Swear less
47-Don't waste so much time playing around on the internet
48-Eat more vegitarian
49-Eat at at least 1 restaurant I've wanted to try but haven't yet
50-Be a tourist in my home area
51- Watch a sunrise from the top of Cadillac Mountain,Maine
52-Kayak Merrymeeting Marsh-did kayak the lake in 2012
53-See the ghost at the Portsmouth Lighthouse when we go by in the boat
54-Get a new carpet for my bedroom
55-see life with my heart not my head
56-conquer 1 fear
57-wish on a shooting star
58-add at least 1 new state to my get to all 50 states wish list
59-do something "not me" just to try it (something I would say no to, just do it)-taje advantage of one of those not so sure about opportunities
60-sit in the moonlight and listen to a beautiful song
61-Reread Great Expectations (its still sitting on my night stand)-started it
62-Have a great veggie garden
63-keep the piles of books from building up on my coffee table-ha-ha-ha
64-spend lots of time with friends and family
65-call my "old" college friends more frequently
66- visit my college UMO and get a new t shirt-did the t shirt part
67-read a few books on my to read list-did it
68-discover more photos to take in my home area
69-eat chocolate and not feel guilty about it
70-and exercise more since I'll be eating chocolate
AND
1-work on a sense of continual inner peace

2-work on my relationship with my mom
3-keep moving and exercising so I feel good
4-read more frequently... I've gotten behind this past fall-and I think need to find joy in it again-I get so distracted by the internet and tv and other things
5-learn new art skills and try new art projects -work on being a professional artist not an occasional crafter-but accept my time limits and cash flow limits-but I want to do a few more craft shows so I want to get "supplied"
6-accept those things I cannot change and try to accept those things with grace not anger or frustration
7-try not to let the stress of work and other things in life get to me so strongely
8-try some more new recipes and have fun cooking and exploring that craft...
9-find adventure and maybe visit a new state or 2-I wish for Europe or something far and away but don't think it will be happening this year
10-finish some cleaning and organizing in my house and my big house project is to rip out my bedroom rug and put down a floor
11-push myself and not get lazy...

12-learn some new things-by being open to some new experiences
13-find my years purpose and goals...I usually let it come to me. This past year my goal was to work on my art and work on my French...which I did well with both...and this year coming up...let me see what finds me.
14-work on my French some more
15-don't let my studio get too messy and out of control since I spent so much time in 2011 getting it in shape
16-Practice patience...
17-Do more of what makes me happy
18- and be around people who help my being (heard this before? )
19-go back and find my eagles
2-watch old movies
and maybe they'll be more...
until later
alligator



Thursday, December 29, 2011

A Few New Journal Pages

Can't just stick to the old, here's a few new journal pages to show you.
This page (did I show you this?) was quite simple of some silly Yankee Swap gifts. I took white watercolor paper and stamp the words (ho-ho-ho) from Hero Arts all over it. Then I added this red striped paper and some black polka dot paper tape (Smash Book supplies) to kind of look like a santa outfit-in a rough way. The words were doodled, colored and then I brushed some red Stickles on them. The 3 word circles are Hero Arts stamps stamped in red and then punched out. I also added an October Afternoon santa face pin.
This is another page from that same Christmas party. I used some red poinsettia paper and took some white paper, candy cane embossed it and then used red ink to make it really look like a candy cane. The words were typed on my computer with a font from an OLD set of fonts (like 12 years old maybe) from a font CD. I cut them out, colroed in the holly and then inked the white paper green.  The reindeer is from a new Hero Arts set/it stamps and cuts-see Sizzix items. I stamped him on brown paper and then colored in the sweater, etc. I used some 7Gypsies paper tape and then punched out some red circles and some silver circles-attached and stamped the words (Hero Arts) in one of the circles and added the number/date using some October Afternoon stickers.
Green paper on my watercolor background, some EK Success border stickers, a Technique Tuesday/Allie Edwards stamp on the top and the 11 is from Autumn Leaves and then colored in red. I added the photo and the Santa sticker (October Afternoon) and I stamped the words (7Gypsies) and made the little thought bubble. The Sunday is an older Technique Tuesday stamp.
Finally, wanted to show this mini-series Dave and I watched which I enjoyed. I used some older paper from a DCWV paper pack. I added the photo of the mini-series and doodled with white pen around it. I also used white pen to write in my description and to outline the edge of the page. I used a Tim Holtz/Sizzix die to cut the banner which I folded and attached and then took I white plastic crown from my stash-but first I colored the crown with gold Viva paint rub.  Finally, I put in same Staples white reinforcers in each corner. Oh yeah, and before all of this, I used a Paper Smooches Tune In stamp along one side of the page in white ink.
Thanks for checking out my pages!

2012-My Bucket List

Yesterday was a home day- a few hours in the studio catching up on my holiday journal and I am quite pleased- I cleaned out 3 kitchen cabinets and my basement closet-which used to the be the toy overflow closet and then became the kitchen overflow closet but still needed a good cleaning...so today all the kitchen overlfow went into the newly organized closet and my cabinets are much more organized too as I moved many things into the overflow closet! Love it!
Here's a few more shore photos from Tuesday...today I share some textures with you.




And since this is the week of looking back and for looking forward -and since I have looked back already, it is time to look forward. What would I like to accomplish in the next 12 months?
1-work on a sense of continual inner peace
2-work on my relationship with my mom
3-keep moving and exercising so I feel good
4-read more frequently... I've gotten behind this past fall-and I think need to find joy in it again-I get so distracted by the internet and tv and other things
5-learn new art skills and try new art projects -work on being a professional artist not an occasional crafter-but accept my time limits and cash flow limits-but I want to do a few more craft shows so I want to get "supplied"
6-accept those things I cannot change and try to accept those things with grace not anger or frustration
7-try not to let the stress of work and other things in life get to me so strongely 
8-try some more new recipes and have fun cooking and exploring that craft...
9-find adventure and maybe visit a new state or 2
10-finish some cleaning and organizing in my house and my big house project is to rip out my bedroom rug and put down a floor
11-push myself and not get lazy...
12-learn some new things-by being open to some new experiences
13-find my years purpose and goals...I usually let it come to me. This past year my goal was to work on my art and work on my French...which I did well with both...and this year coming up...let me see what finds me.
14-work on my French some more
15-don't let my studio get too messy and out of control since I spent so much time in 2011 getting it in shape
16-Practice patience...
17-Do more of what makes me happy
18- and be around people who help my being (heard this before? )
&
There may be some more if I think of anything else.
Jump ahead until 12/30 for a more complete list....found last years and it was great to use it as a starting point~

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Highlights of 2011

Here's some high points from this year...as we wrap up 2011, it is a kind of catharsis, a way to let go of the old year...always a little sad I think...letting go of a year and moving forward. Well, maybe more scarey.
January
Will it be snowy or not? School, delay or snow day?

our owl


winter roadtrips to break it up
cool icicles

February

an early but short lived spring thaw
Dave and I had tickets to sit in the Maine section, and it was the best hockey game ever-though we lost in the last 15 seconds when UNH scored to change the score to UNH4/Maine3. It was crushing...but a fantastic game!
turkeys

Off to Death Valley
March
What is this some kind of early April's fool joke? They are saying a BIG snowstorm tonight and tomorrow! A big snowstorm? Winter is suppose to be over, isn't it? I hate these cruel springs...the kind that can't quite fight off the last hold of winter

I made so many pans of date nut bars once we got home from California/Nevada
Working on my French some more.
new boots and beach walks
winter didn't let go
And we had a great trip to Death Valley and Nevada
April
spring blooms and opening up the screen porch
last snows on those blooms

mud season is official
a relaxing week off
a new jet ski
MAY

Seems I have computer virus-ugh! Luckily work has given me an iPad although I have no photos on it to share. This may take a bit before I'm squared away-grumble grumble groan and snarl! Hopefully will be back soon!
Gardening is a big past time

JUNE


This is the first time in forever the Bruins are playing for the Stanley Cup, and they lost in the last 19 seconds the other night. It would be great for them to win tonight...bring home the cup to Boston.
Then today is my annual trek to Center Harbour, New Hampshire to go to the Keepsake's Quilting sale...Keepsake's Quilting is a HUGE quilt store with a giant mail order business...they also have a nice big yarn storm (Pattern Works) too.

Boats in the water and we're off on a few boating trips
Hey everybody, today is my last day of school (well work) for the summer. You think the kids get excited about summer vacation? I think the teachers are just as excited.

JULY

Boating and fishing
My laptop died a couple of months ago and now Dave's is acting up

OBX vacation

Days at the lakes

reading on relaxing on the screen porch

AUGUST

Baking and making yummy things from my garden

boating and watching the airshow from the boat

picking blueberries
mushrooms everywhere
knitting and reading at the "lake" or the screenporch
more boating
SEPTEMBER
It's the official start of the work year for me!
Hurricane Irene
weather cools off a bit
fall road trips

 
OCTOBER
Apple picking
Pumpkins
the Cape
last boating adventure


first snow


first BIG snowstorm


and birthdays

NOVEMBER
Tonight Maine takes on New Hampshire...a huge rivalry game. I am of course rooting for the better team...Go Maine!

Thanksgiving

Last bloom of the year

DECEMBER

craftsfair

Oh Christmas tree!

Studio time

The  year of trying different chili recipes

baking and cooking

shopping




It is FUN to see where you've been over the year. How far you have traveled in 12 months. Full circle seasonally too. Every year is an adventure and hopefully 2012 will be a great one for me-and you too!
Tomorrow we'll do the 2012 bucket list....yes...another list.