Godfrey

So Godfrey our resident gopher turtle lives in our side yard and keeps the weeds at bay. He's a pretty big boy already.... he's got to be at least 20 years old. Fun to watch and one of the great Florida Natives. He was out today while we sat our porch and I thought would snap some pictures of him.

Picture Taking Flamingo ~ Cathy

It's been forever...

I was just looking at my blog and I haven't posted since March 1st! Where does time go! I have been so busy at work that I haven't given my blog or my personal live much thought.

So since this is my Birthday weekend, I decided to turn over a new leaf and be a better friend to the people I care about, post on my blog regularly and have a little more fun.

Check back often 'cuz this Flamingo will have lots to post about.

A much older and wiser Flamingo ~ Cathy

A Chilly Florida day.

Florida is a little chilly today... I don't believe the temp is more than 50 degrees. The wind is whipping around and it's just not a pretty day to be outside. So I figured it would be a great day to cook and bake. Keith is preparing the ham for dinner and I made some dinner rolls and some awesome beer bread. I though I would share the recipe for the beer bread... it's yum! Yum! Yum! and Super Easy! Enjoy.

1 hour 3 min prep

SERVES 6 -8

3 cups flour (sifted)
3 teaspoons baking powder (omit if using Self-Rising Flour)
1 teaspoon salt (omit if using Self-Rising Flour)
1/4 cup sugar
1 (12 ounce) can beer
1/2 cup melted butter (1/4 cup will do just fine)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix dry ingredients and beer.
Pour into a greased loaf pan.
Pour melted butter over mixture.
Bake 1 hour, remove from pan and cool for at least 15 minutes.

UPDATED NOTES: Sifting flour for bread recipes is a must-do.

The final result should be a thick, hearty and very tasteful bread, NOT A BRICK! ;).

Baking Flamingo ~ Cathy

Breakfast of Champions

Sunday morning breakfast has always been a very important tradition in my adult life. There is just something comforting about a big breakfast on Sunday morning... a cup of coffee, the newspaper, a great restaurant, and no agenda.

Sunday morning breakfast started when my son Justin was just a baby and continued on over all these years.. Justin is almost 19. Keith and I developed our relationship together over Sunday morning breakfast. Our boys, Jamie and Justin, were just in high school. Keith took his son Jamie out for breakfast on Sunday mornings and I took my son Justin out for breakfast. The boys were buddies and we thought it would be a good idea to breakfast together. What fun our little dysfunctional family had on Sunday mornings.... we laughed so hard that our stomach's hurt. Well the boys are getting older and are not always around to have breakfast with us. The memories linger, the laughter fades a little, but Keith and I still have amazing Sunday morning breakfasts together... maybe a little quieter but certainly still a lot of fun.

Enjoy our pictures!

One happy and stuffed Flamingo - Cathy

It's been forever...

Well dear blogger friends it seems like it's been forever since I've posted, but actually it's only been three weeks. I have been feeling very under the weather since Christmas and all I've been able to do is go to work and put my creative side on the back burner. Right now I have to say that I am definitely on the road to recovery and ready to create. I got up early this morning and created this "My Creations Circle Album" with my favorite paper - Life's Delight ... oh my gosh what fun I had!

Cutting the circles were a little challenging since I don't have any of the fancy machines to cut circles... all I have is the manual Fiscars Circle cutter. Well it worked and I thing it turned out great! Now all I have to do is find some fun pictures to mount in my album.

So dear friends I'm glad to be back creating and I look forward to seeing you at my next workshop.

Recovering Flamingo ~ Cathy

Grateful

Well dear blogger friends, the holidays are over and all the preparations have come and gone. I spent a good part of the past two weeks very quietly and it was exactly as I like it. I am very grateful for a new year and I wish all of you a very healthy and prosperous one. I thought I would share a card I created which represents new beginnings.

Happy Flamingo ~ Cathy

Yee Haw! Ornament Fun!

Ornament Fun!

WOW! I wish I could take credit for this little cleaver thing but I saw something similar on someones blog... I can't remember where... if this is your design please let me know so that I can give you credit!

I had such fun making this ornament and I just had to share.

You need the Evergreen Close To My Heart Stamp set in order to create this cool thing.

Cut a piece of cardstock 6 x 6 and then stamp four trees next to one another lining up the edges.
Add a tab to the stamped trees and cut out the entire image. Score between the trees and fold to form a little pyramid box.

Cut a strip of cardstock 1/2 x 12 and scallop one edge.

Glue the scallop to the edge of your pyramid of trees.

Glue the tab and form your tree.

OH AND HOW FUN IS IT TO EMBELLISH! I punched small holes in the sides and I used some fine wire to form the handle. I used ribbon to embellish....SUCH FUN! Make some of your own and see what I mean.

Busy Creating Flamingo ~ Cathy

Box Bag!

I have been wanting a pink Christmas tree since I saw some at Big Lots at the beginning of the holiday season. I thought it would be so much fun to have to hang all my flamingo ornaments on. I still haven't found the the extra money to purchase my frivolous tree so I thought I would stamp one up today.

How much fun is this little trinket! These little solid bottom bags are great to give away. Fill it with a cute little gift or some yummy candy and you will hear the squeals of delight.

Here are the instructions for you to make many and give away to make someone fabulously happy! Enjoy!Cut a piece of cardstock 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 and score at 1 inch on all four sides. Then score the four corner squares diagonally to form two triangles. Glue to form a box. I used liquid glass to glue the box together for strength.

Cut a piece of Background and Texture paper 5 1/2 x 11 and adhere to the bottom of the box to form the sides. Cut a strip of cardstock 1 1/2 x 11 to decorate the bottom of the box bag. I used decorative scissors to scallop the long end of the strip.

I punched two holes in the top of the bag and threaded some ribbon through to close the bag. Embellish your bag with some stamping and ribbon or whatever your heart desires. Voila! A fun little bag to give away.

Busy Creating Flamingo ~ Cathy

HELP! We've been Elfed!

Ava and her purse!

So I just had to share the great picture I got today. My lovely Canadian niece Audrey, who loves to scrapbook and papercraft, asked for my purse gift bag pattern the other day. Woohoo! Look what she created! One fun purse for her little girl Ava. Ava will be the envy of all her friends.... she has an "Audrey Original"!

Dancing Flamingo ~ Cathy

Flip Accordion Album

Are you getting ready for the holidays? Well here is one Amazing Holiday Album to create just in time for your Christmas pictures. Happy Creating!

Supplies:

• 9 x 9 Memory Showcase Album



• Level 2 Background and Texture Paper ( I used Aspen)



• Assorted Aspen My Stickease



• Bonding Memories Glue
  
  

Score two inside pages at 4 1/2 and fold like mountain peaks.

Cut: 2 pieces of cardstock 6 x 9 and glue to the left side of the mountain peak.
Cut two pieces of cardstock 3 x 9 and glue to the right side of the mountain peak.

Cut Background and Texture Paper:

• Cut 4 pieces 9 x 9 for the front, back and inside covers.



• Cut 2 pieces 6 x 9 for pages 1 and 3



• Cut 2 pieces 3 x 4 1/2 for pages 1 and 3



• Cut 4 pieces 6 x 4 1/2 for pages 2 and 4



• Cut 2 pieces 9 x 3 for pages 2 and 4
  

Glue Background and Texture paper to the pages and embellish with My Stickese and Pictures. ENJOY!

Festive Flamingo ~ Cathy

Thanksgiving at my house....

.... well this thanksgiving things don't really resemble the traditional family time. Keith is trucking across America to provide for the family. He may splurge and stop at a truck stop and have some turkey and fixins'. God bless you Keith... be safe!


Justin and Sam are working hard warming up the couch... Sarah is nowhere to be found and the cat is taking a suntan! Yup... just your traditional Thanksgiving.















Well in all seriousness I am truly thankful for all that I have. Justin decided to get off the couch and make an apple and pumpkin pie. Yum! Yum! Yum! Sarah is now out getting ingredients to make the all famous Green Bean casserole. The turkey and stuffing are in the oven thanks to me.





We may not be the Cleavers but we have a roof over our heads, food on the table and love in our hearts... what more can we ask for?

Happy Thanksgiving from the Flamingo Hut to yours!~ Cathy

Happy Thanksgiving.

This thanksgiving I was going to make a list of all things I am thankful for but the more I thought about it the list was endless. God knows how thankful I am for all the blessings in my life and for all the trials to keep me humble. There are, however, a few people in my life that bring stability and love that I just could not live without and I am so thankful for that.

My beloved Keith. I love him. He is my friend and my partner. He loves me in good times and bad. He is fair and level headed. A hard worker. A great father. He is a ferocious reader. He is intelligent and funny. What more can I say... I love him! Happy Birthday today darling!

My crazy son Justin. I love him. He is bright. Funny. Challenging. Even through all the trials and tribulations over the hears I cannot begin to express how much I love him and cheer for him. I can hardly wait to see his adult life blossom. My dearest Justin had to grow up so fast. It was just him and I for many years.... I am so hoping that God will bless him with a bright future.

My dearest brother Mike and my sister-in-law, Ella. I love them. They are my rocks. They are the people that listen to me laugh and cry. They are kind and fair. They have journeyed with me through many trials over the years and have never run from me. They worry about me, they rejoice with me, they love me. They are a part of me. I am so thankful that they are a part of my life.

One thankful Flamingo signing off ~ Cathy

We All Love Handbags...

If you're anything like me you love handbags! My budget just doesn't allow too many purchases, but how fun would it be to make these great handbag gift bags. Tuck some tissue paper into them and hide the perfect gift and you'll have one great Christmas gift for someone! Can you just hear the squeals of delight when you hand this to someone?

I can show you how to make these great handbags in December. Just join my mailing list and I will send you my December Workshop schedule so that you can join the fun at the Flamingo Hut.

One delighted Flamingo toting a handbag ~ Cathy

Creative Time in the midst of beauty...

The weekend is here and partially complete. It's early Sunday morning and I just love the early morning quiet time that I have when my family is asleep. I perk up some wonderful coffee... let the dog out and enjoy the beautiful serene morning. Like most of you know I have recently moved back to Florida and what a blessing that has been. I find myself renewed and rejuvenated.... I love Florida! The weather is amazing! In the fall the sky becomes this deep deep blue that we just rarely saw while living in the Midwest. I tried to capture the beauty this morning from my backyard. I think I didn't thoroughly appreciate things until they were taken away, now that it's restored, I am doing the Flamingo Happy Dance!





So during my quiet weekend time I love to create. I was looking at my boring Rolodex and thought of it as a blank canvas. This is what I came up with. Now when I reach to call someone this little creative thing will bring a smile to my face and remind me what a blessing my creative time is.

Thankful Flamingo ~ Cathy