Forest Friends

Hi, Everyone!

Wow, we're into April this week! Yay! And that means - Easter! Easter is a tremendously significant religious holiday for me, but as a little girl, it meant - a new Easter outfit! Oh, yes, new dress, new shoes,a new spring coat, an "Easter bonnet" and even new little white gloves! Oh, my, it was exciting!

And of course, the Easter Bunny came and hid eggs all over the house and yard - it was positively fabulous! Except that I could never figure out why it was an Easter BUNNY who brought the eggs and Easter baskets and not an Easter CHICKEN. It completely baffled me!

This year I've been participating in several swaps with my Swappers Anonymous sisters, and lately I've been working on gifts for our Easter Bunny Swap. So I can't yet show you the things I've made, but I'm so excited about some of the items and will be posting them in two weeks, after our big "reveal"!

Meanwhile, here is a card I made with the darling set Forest Friends - isn't that little bunny just the cutest thing?! And the Designer Series Paper is the new "A Walk in the Park" from Stampin' Up's Occasions Mini Catalog. This paper is so fresh and new and utilizes a sophisticated color scheme of Baja Blue, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Kiwi Kiss, and Going Gray. I've never used Going Gray before, so this was a challenge for me! But I love how these colors went together, and I've already gone through two entire packs of the paper!

Oh a personal note, Ken has been very sick again this past weekend with another upper respiratory infection. He has never really been well since January 7, with recurrent bouts of this all winter. He never complains, but I know he's getting discouraged. Here's hoping a fresh new month will bring a fresh new bill of health for him!

Hope you all have a great week, and thanks for stopping by!

Cinnamon Apple Coffee Cake - Yum!

Hi, Everyone!

Got another recipe for you! This is a recipe I received from my sweet sister Debby about 30 years ago, and it's my go-to recipe whenever I "need" (translate that as "want"!) a coffee cake. It's delicious!

I made this recipe page for a swap I'm in with some of my bestest friends and swappin' pals! I hope you enjoy the recipe - and the picture! I used the beautiful Bella Rose Designer Series Paper, my new eyelet border punch, and that little flower in the corner? Made with my awesome Big Shot and a Sizzix die - love, love, love my Big Shot!

Wishing you God's blessings this week, and thanks for stopping by!

Cake: 1 cup flour 1 ½ tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. salt ¼ cup butter ½ cup sugar 1 egg ½ cup milk 1 cup chopped apples Topping: ¼ cup flour ½ cup brown sugar 2 tsp. cinnamon 3 tablespoons melted margarine Mix dry cake ingredients and set aside. Beat shortening, sugar and egg until creamy. Add dry ingredients and milk alternately to creamed mixture. Add chopped apples. Mix only until blended. Pour into greased 8” square pan. Sprinkle topping over batter. Bake at 350 degrees until done.

Spring is On Its Way!

Spring is in the air! Today when we went to play tennis, the sun was shining, the breeze was warm, and the park was full of people enjoying the lovely day!

Little girls in sparkly red costumes were arriving for baton lessons; big boys were double-dog-daring each other on the skateboard ramps; Little Leaguers were warming up for the first game of the day.

And everywhere, the birds were chirping a lively spring song: Spring is coming! Spring is coming!

Here are two cute little birds to sing a spring song for you! They're from the new set Cheep Talk by Stampin' Up. And do you just love those corduroy buttons?! I'm crazy for them!

Hope you enjoy these little fellas, and may this coming week bring you warm and happy days!