A Butternut gift to you.

As a Thanksgiving present...I'm going to share my Butternut Squash recipe.

If you're wondering what to do with your side dishes and have always wanted to do something different with a squash...enjoy!

Pick a good-sized butternut for your meal.
(It’s soooo good and goes sooo quickly that you may need extra!)

Peal and cut off ends. Cut down the center lengthwise and scoop out the fibers and seeds.
Cut a V shaped canal down the middle of the long part, but don’t throw away the part that you’ve cut out. You can cut that into chunks and throw into the hollowed out round section.

I normally place these into glass oven dishes, but feel free to use what works.
Peel and chop a couple of nice McIntosh apples….more if you like as they get soft as they cook. Toss these all over the squash.
Cranberries…..lots of lovely cranberries!!
Chop a bunch as well as add some whole ones. Use as much as you like!!

Raisins…..I sometimes use one or two of the small snack packages.
These are optional. I don’t use them all the time.
Check to be sure there are no stem pieces. Toss them all over the squash as well.

Since I have no real measurements for anything, just done by sight…..place small chunks of butter all around this.
Liberally sprinkle dark brown sugar all over everything. Add a good sprinkle of cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg if you have it.

Cover the dish with foil and bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees.
Start checking on it after about 40 min.They are done when thickest part of squash is soft when poked with a fork.

Christmas Postcards

Whew...finally a bit of art. Not that there hasn't been anything "art related" going on. I've been up to my ears in trying to prepare for an upcoming show in just under two weeks. Lots of framing to finish and things to be done.

Sometimes, however, I need to step back and do "other" art. Something on the smaller side.

I'm involved in a Christmas postcard swap in a private group I belong to. The postcards I've been working on started by way of a stamp I carved. It's a stamp of a pine cone....and I'm pretty pleased at how it came out.

At first I wasn't sure what I'd do for the background...but then I realized that the cardstock I wanted to use had a very slick surface....perfect for taking on alcohol ink. I had a fun time mushing up the colors on that.

I also had gotten a new thing to play with....Martha Stewart glitter. It is sooo fine and sooo beautiful in the range of colors it comes in. I used a beautiful bronze color to edge the pinecones and a lovely antique silver green shade on the needles.

They are really striking...but I'm afraid that the pictures do them no justice.

I also decide when I'd finished that I wanted to try to protect the surface a bit so the glitter wouldn't take too much abuse, since we mail them "naked" (without an envelope), so I tried a spray sealer. I wasn't sure what would happen by doing that and if it would play nicely with the alcohol ink...but it did!!!

I'm having such fun with these that I may send some off to friends this year as well.

a closer look

Here's one more pic of that maple out front. My husband took several really lovely shots and this one is a little closer.

It'll be sad to see all of this beautiful color gone soon.

Shades of red

Happy Friday the 13th!!

Yep...I'm one of the folks who consider this a Lucky day!

Hey...my new mattress was delivered today...so how bad can it be...lol

I just wanted to share a pic my husband took the other day of the red maple tree in the front yard. Regardless of the fact that it make a mess to clean up every fall....how can you not help but to love the carpet of color that it produces!!!

Right now it is at it's prettiest, where we can watch the beautiful red tree leaving a wonderful carpet of color on the ground.

When the red is gone.....the white will certainly be sure to follow.

Been a while

I know. I've feel like I haven't posted in ages. Just been quite busy lately.
I've been putting in a fair amount of time in learning this new Hallmark job which will become easier and create a better schedule as time goes on....I hope. I know I've learned quiet a bit already, so I see this working out alright.
I've also been on the hunt for a new mattress. I know...not very exciting...but it is quite an adventure as far as I'm concerned. Geesh...I've never tried out sooo many beds. Almost a shame that there is such a collection to choose from.
My husband isn't in on this mission. He doesn't have as much trouble with his back as I do, so he's waiting until I've got it narrowed to the final two or three. Then he'll get in on the act. I think we're getting close.
I've also been spending whatever remainder of time I have trying to get all my artwork in order...matting, framing, etc. for a possible showing during the first weekend in Dec.
Sooo....I've not been around all the much...but I'm hopeful that most of this will calm down soon and I can fit in some real art!