My Florida Guy

Yesterday Bryn called to tell me it was SNOWING in Ft. Dix! While that may not seem like such a big deal to a lot of folks, it was Bryn's first snow! He's lived in Florida all his life. The picture above (Far left, standing.) is a good representation of how Bryn lived his life - in shorts, T-Shirt and sandles - playing soccer, winning tournaments! Throw in a little surfing and beach time and you have what makes Bryn, Bryn! Snow's a big deal! I have to say, he wasn't all that thrilled with it!

(The picture above was taken in 2005, the fall I think. They had just won the 3v3 Regionals. It was a 3 day tournament - they drove back home and went right to another soccer field to play for their 'other' team!)
I decided to share this one too, just because I like it! It's at the same tournament, the captains of each team meeting with the official before the start of the game. It's the only time he wore real shoes!

A Cook's Journal

I love to bake, to cook and try new recipes. I have dozens of cookbooks, subscribe to a number of cooking magazines and participate in recipe exchanges. I have also found several online sources for new recipes. Finding a way to store and organize my recipe collection is an ongoing project. When I saw a swap for a Baking/Cooking Journal, I couldn't sign up fast enough!

My swap partner is a professional chef and she's been very helpful. She's answered all my questions and given me her perspective on the perfect Cook's Journal. I've incorporated her thoughts and needs with my own and have come up with this.
It's a classification folder, with a separator and a wallet! Office supplies are so much fun! I'm planning on putting my initials in the upper right corner, thought I'm not sure what my swap partner would like on hers. I've also used a length of twill tape to hold the folder closed, just in case! Plus I like the way it looks.
On the inside cover I've created a pocket page, a place to hold the recipes you tear out of magazines. I thought of this pocket as a staging area - a place to keep new things you want to try. Once you've tried them, if you decide you want to keep them, you can incorporate them into the journal.

On the second page I've created a recipe sheet - click on the picture for a better look. These sheets can be taken off and slid into a page protector to keep the recipe clean while you cook.
Behind the sheet is a page you can use however you like - maybe a list of substitutions? A family favorite in your grandmother's handwriting? There's also a tab that can be labeled on the side, to tell you what kind of recipes are on this page.
Page three is very similar to page two, there's a tab along the side to label the type of recipes and a sheet of scalloped black paper that can be decorated however you like. The recipe on this page was given to me by my dear friend Lisa D. It's a yummy cookie recipe and also shows how easily you can keep track of recipes printed from your computer.

Page four is actually a Velcro pocket, it's quite roomy. I decided to use ledger paper, that way if you wanted to keep an index of what's in the pocket you could. If not, you can personalize it however you like.
Page 5, the back of the built in pocket, is another pocket. I put paper clips along the edge and clipped a recipe card to the outside, just to show versatility.

Page 6 is the beginning of an accordion style structure. I've folded the first page of the structure back to make another pocket. A 3.5x5 recipe card is tucked inside.
On the back of the pocket, page 7, I clipped some note paper, maybe for a grocery list or a menu. Inside the structure are 3 envelopes, 6x9, for storing more recipes, either folded printouts, recipe cards or recipes torn from magazines. Each envelope is tabbed for labeling the type of recipe it holds.
I left the back of the envelope plain, I'm sure I'll think of something I forgot to add in this journal, this leaves me room to add whatever it might be. On the front of each envelope I've left room for contents or notes.
The last of the three envelopes opens at the top instead of the side.
I started to decorate the back of the last envelope with scraps of leftover paper, though I'm not sure what else I'll add. And the last page of the journal is another page with prongs.

I'm excited to start using this, labeling and categorizing my recipes. I hope my swap partner likes hers! (Did I mention I made 2? Once to send and one to keep? I knew if I didn't I'd have a hard time parting with it!)

Inspired by Ali Edwards

I am often inspired by Ali Edwards. Last Friday was no exception. The minute I saw her small gratitude journal, I knew I had to make my own version. Being grateful is often lost in the wishing for things we don't have or in mourning things lost. For so many reasons I often forget to count my blessings on a regular basis. What a simple way to be reminded of the many things I have to be grateful for.

The inside pages (you can click on the photos to enlarge them) were designed by Ali, and you can find them here. I had never visited Designer Digitals before, but I plan to spend some time there soon. It was so easy, just click, save and print!
I added little pockets on the front and back inside covers, and a little paper clip to mark your place. I also left a few blank pages in the book for extra journaling or to add a few photos of things I'm especially grateful for. What's a book without pictures, right?

While Ali used a premade 7 Gypsies naked journal, my book is a simple handmade journal, and is about the same size. I wanted to make this now, no time to wait for shipping! Sometimes you need to strike while the iron is hot! I also started my book with November, and went through 2009. I am so ready for November!

Cookies

Yesterday morning, while Murph was golfing, I decided to make cookies to send to Bryn. His favorite are Peanut Butter Cookies!

We had our first taste of cooler weather - it was 56 degress! (That's cool for Florida!) It was nice having the oven on.

You get a few cookies when you double the recipe! That's okay, this way he has enough to share.

Hope you had a nice weekend!

I didn't realize it had been so long since I'd posted!

I live right by this bridge. It's a beautiful old draw bridge and I'm often caught while it's up, waiting for a boat to pass through. I don't usually mind as the view is so pretty! This is where the Ortega River meets the St. Johns River and one of my favorite views of the Jacksonville skyline.

A view from the other side of the bridge - the Ortega River, the side that I live on.
This is my visor. . .


. . . and this is how warm it was! Really not too bad, especially as there was a nice breeze and very little humidity. A nice day to sit on the bridge and watch the boats go by!

Where was I headed you ask? To the used bookstore, of course! I've been reading a lot lately, both audio and print books on my Kindle. I rent most of my audio books from the used bookstore. I just finished reading "The Other Queen", by Philippa Gregory. While it wasn't a bad book, it wasn't a great book either. I enjoyed her other books much more, specifically, "The Other Boleyn Girl", "The Virgin's Lover", and "The Constant Princess". I really do like historical fiction!

I also listened to "Case Histories", which was not historical fiction, but quite good.

I'm between swaps right now and have been working on the photos from Bryn's graduation from basic training - yep, that was a year ago! I don't think you should rush these things! I bought a kit from Carol Wingert that I thought would be nice for a more informal book. It's working out perfectly. I hope to be finished this weekend and will share some photos of my version with you then.

I promise not to be so long between posts!!

Look what I got!

My package arrived from Tulsi, my partner in My Favorite Things Swap. Such a nice surprise! I haven't read a Mary Higgins Clark novel in years, that should be a treat! Check out the pretty card she made me, too.

My BFF brought me some goodies, too! Pink Goodies! I love pink. Look at that sweet little bag on the left, I don't know how or for what, but I'm going to find a way to use it. And pink hot chocolate, too! Do I have a pink teacup?

I also got this cute little handmade pincushion in a swap along with the box of pins. I love how it pretty it looks in my little wooden bowl.




I thought I'd leave you with my current favorite photo. Yes, Bryn really was home for a few days! This is a new picture. That boy loves his dog!