Help [ME] Ronda

Hello.

It's been a while. 

i know it's been a long while, and you have sweetly reached out to me.

i miss you too.

i have been facing lots of medical issues for the last 3 years. Ongoing medical issues. i usually am an open book about things but when you have no answers how do you explain things?

So i kept silent

In the midst of the issues, a mass was found above my heart, behind my sternum. Surgery was necessary.

But First a vacation, for if i am going to be on bed rest for a while, and limit my activity even more than it has been, then i think fun on the beach with my Martha was a necessity.

i love that this is an annual event for Martha & i. i love that this is year 3 for us. i love that we brought our daughters. 

The trip was spectacular. It was just what i needed. 

i returned home to a VATS thymectomy. 4 day hospital stay. I'm home on oxygen now and waiting on biopsy results. 

Waiting is the hardest part. 

But, i am here, and just wanted to say

Hello

 

 

Collective 5: Autumn Splendors

i love living in Colorado. i love the seasonal changes that happen around here.  There is something about the change, the transitions, i just love. Autumn is so beautiful around here. The colors, the crisp air, the sunsets, the cool mornings. Heavenly.

i love the vegetables and fruits of this season. The colors of the gourds we spotted at a local pumpkin patch were just amazing, not to mention the textures. i am so inspired by these beauties in so many ways.

Who doesn't love a good scarf with the pop of plum. i admit i would rather pile the layers of clothes on than try to escape the heat. So when autumn rolls around, i get excited about scarves, long sleeve, tees and boots. 

Watching the leaves transition from dark green, to lime green, to that wonderful pop of yellow is breath taking. i love going on walks in the cool of the evening, delighting in the changes. i have to stop myself from picking up every leaf or every little twig but admit a few do tend to come home with me just because. 

There is nothing more spectacular than the setting sun against the mountains on those crisp autumn nights. The colors are so spectacular from indigo to pinks, oranges, and golden yellows. Simply Stunning. 

And let's not forget pumpkin patches with the cutest pumpkin around. The family went on an outing this year with Lucca and we loved seeing him tumble all over the pumpkins. He was so fascinated it was easy to get caught up in his excitement. 

What are your favorite things about Autumn?

12 Days: Spa Gifts, day 2

i've had on my list of homemade gifts spa items for friends & family. i knew they would be rather easy to make and I loved the idea of the simplicity of them. i already had a lot of the supplies on hand and asked Alexi if she wanted to make some with me. We set up a weekend day to create all of these gifts. Alexi, Cheyenne, & i created lots of homemade spa gifts including Bath Bombs, Bath Salts, and Sugar Scrubs. Anthony even joined in creating Bath Salts and we all had a great time creating. The house smelled so good.

After making sugar scrubs, we started making bath bombs. If you've never used bath bombs before...they are HEAVENLY. They are meant to react with water and will bubble & fizz when you drop them in your bath. i have been purchasing bath bombs for awhile but i know after making them, i don't think i will ever purchase them again. 

Dry

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup citric acid (found near canning ingredients or online)
• 1/2 cup corn starch

Wet

• 2 1/2 Tbsp Grapeseed Oil (or other oil)
• 3/4 Tbsp water
• 5-7 drops of essential oils
• 1/4 teaspoon borax
• a few drops of food coloring (optional)
• witch hazel in a spray bottle. 

You'll need two bowls, one larger & one smaller. Mix the dry ingredients in the larger bowl. You can add in oats or lavendar bits in the dry mix. In the smaller bowl, mix the wet ingredients (including borax but not including the witch hazel). You can add in items like lavender or oats for a nice pretty touch. 

Very slowly mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. If it starts fizzing, slow down. We used a spoon at first and then our hands. Spritz the mixture with 2-3 sprays of witch hazel. Because we live in a dry climate we ended up doing 3-5 spritzes. You want the mixture to clump together but still breaks apart. 

You can use anything to make molds: cookie cutters, plastic ornaments, 1/4 -1/3 measuring cups, etc. Pack the powder into the mold just like you would pack brown sugar into a up.

We used plunge cookie cutters i got last year for christmas and they worked perfectly.  

Let them dry overnight so they are super hard. We wrapped ours up in white tulle and tied them with twine.  Super cute!

Bath salts are super easy to make. You can use Epsom salt, Sea Salt, or a combination of both. I personally like the Epsom and that's all we used. 

• 3 Cup Epsom Salt
• 1 Cup Baking Soda
• 5-10 drops Essential Oils
• Food Coloring

The baking soda is great for beautiful skin and can also help detox your skin. Add salt & baking soda togther and mix well. Next add in the oils and food coloring.

Keep track of your mixes by color. We wrote out a list and kept it nearby so we wouldn't get confused. Here are some of our favorite scents.

• Lavender + Lavender herbs
• Patchouli + Bergamot
• Patchouli + Ylang Ylang
• Peppermint + Eucalyptus
• Tea Tree + Lavender
• Rose

They all smell amazing and i cannot get enough of them. We made some for ourselves and used mason jars for our packaging. Tie up the sets in Tulle and place in a bag for a great christmas gift. The sets could be all the sugar scrubs; a body scrub, a bath salt, & bath bomb; a face & foot scrub plus bath bomb; etc. Lots of possiblities for homemade christmas gifts.

 

 

 

12 Days: Spa Gifts, day 1

i've had on my list of homemade gifts spa items for friends & family. i knew they would be rather easy to make and I loved the idea of the simplicity of them. i already had a lot of the supplies on hand and asked Alexi if she wanted to make some with me.  We set up a weekend day to create all of these gifts. Alexi, Cheyenne, & i created lots of homemade spa gifts including Bath Bombs, Bath Salts, and Sugar Scrubs. Anthony even joined in creating Bath Salts and we all had a great time creating. The house smelled so good.

Now i know not every one has essential oils on hand but i highly recommend building up your supply of different oils. There are so many uses for oils. Also when looking for "carrier" oils (Almond, coconut, jojoba, grapeseed) first try your local grocery store or discount department store (target, walmart, etc) in the cooking aisle. You can find a good high quality oil there for a good price. 

We started off with Sugar scrubs for hands, body, & face. After doing a little research we found that different sugars are good for different body parts, raw for the feet, brown for the body, and refined for the face.

The basic ratio is: 

• 3 Parts Sugar (Raw, Brown, White Refined)
• 1 Part Oil (Grapeseed, Almond, Coconut, Jojoba)

We started off with foot scrub. Living in colorado, a good foot scrub is a must!

• 1 cup course raw sugar
• 1/3 cup grapeseed oil (or other oil)
• 15 Tea Tree oil

Peppermint oil or Eucalyptus oil are other good oils to use for feet. You can also add in vitamin E but our grapeseed oil already had vitamin E in it. Pour sugar into a bowl and add the oils. Simply mix with a spoon and add mixture to container. i used the small canning jars.  

Body Scrubs were next. You can use any kind of sugar but we love the smell and texture of Brown sugar.

• 1 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/3 Grapeseed oil (or other oil)
• 15 - 20 drops of essential oils

There are a great many differnet essential oils out there and each one has its own uses. We all like different scents. For me Lavendar is my go to scent. For others it may be ylang ylang or eucalyptus, etc.

For the face scrubs we used white refined sugar. It's not as course for the face as the other sugars. 

• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup grapeseed oil (almond, coconut, jojoba)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 10 - 15 drops essential oil

We added a few flakes of oatmeal too. i tried out each of these scrubs on my own skin. My face, hands, and feet felt so soft after each scrub. The oils were simply amazing on my skin. 

If you make some this holiday season for family & friends, go ahead and make extra for yourself. Otherwise you'll want to keep them for yourself! Tomorrow i am going to share Bath Bombs & Bath Salts.

 

 

Repurposed Memories: Baptism Gown

Andrew was home a couple weeks ago. He was so excited to meet his grandson and i was really happy to have him home. We knew he was coming home shortly after Lucca's birth so we planned his baptism around Andrew's visit. 

Twenty years ago or so, i wore this dress to marry the man of my dreams. It had a straight body with this wrap around bustle. After i wore my beautiful gown full of lace and fabric, i had it cleaned & sealed for protection and possible later use. 

i had an idea brewing a long time ago of turning my dress into baptismal gowns for grandchildren. i thought about seeking out a seamstress to change my dress into these gowns knowing i had more than enough fabric. Time went by and the idea sat in the background along with the sealed gown on a shelf. Then Lucca came into our family and i knew it was time. i thought about doing it myself but worried whether i was skilled enough to create his gown.  

i had no choice but to do it myself as i ran out of time to find a seamstress. Cheyenne & i went to look for a pattern. i asked her if she wanted a traditional gown or a "romper" for him. i was so excited to hear she wanted to have something modern yet traditional at the same time. i used parts of the pattern to complete the outfit but relied on my own knowledge to change up the piece. And i am so happy i took that deep breath and believed in myself. The top of the gown has a tuxedo like "shirt" under the vest.

i added the bowtie so he could be just like daddy. Chey & i both loved the traditional gown part so i added it to the top half of the romper pattern.  The lace from the bodice of my dress was the perfect touch for this combination of Modern Traditional Boy Baptismal Gown. It brought tears to my eyes watching my grandson being baptized in a gown infused with love and memories. i have lots of leftover fabric still from the bustle to create another female baptismal gown for future use.  i think i will sew that up soon along with a bonnet or two. 

 

 

 

He's Here

Welcome Lucca Palazzari. He arrived last Thursday after a relatively short labor. Cheyenne, Anthony, and Lucca are all doing amazingly well. It's amazing being a grandma, or Grammie, as i am affectionately called. I am really proud of the kids and how well they are adapting to life as parents. Lucca of course has captured my heart with his little fingers and big eyes. 

They are home now and as you know those first days feel like chaos. We are all adjusting to new schedules and i have been helping them out where i can. Laundry, cleaning, and of course holding him when mom & dad ask.

i have been crocheting and knitting like crazy. i just cannot help myself. He needed some hats so i got to work creating.  Once i had one done, i started looking around for more yarn to create another.  

i had lots of leftover yarn which came in handy for these little projects. i couldn't resist making this sock monkey hat. Once daddy saw it, he asked for one without the ears and face but with the pom-pom. 

He's such a snuggler right now and i love just watching him sleep.  

Every day.

And now i am ready to get back to creating for i have lots of stories to tell and memories to document. 

 

Just Saying...

It's been a while. i was really sick just before Andrew left. It started as a sore throat, cough, and ear infection. After a visit to the doctors, we discovered it was a bacterial infection that took my weak immune system down.  Colds really play havoc on my lungs and asthma. i was on the couch for quite some time but slowly began to get better.  

I wasn't fully recovered but Alexi & i had plans to go to a concert in Chicago for her 21st birthday.  The tickets were purchased in January and so i was left with a dilemna. I decided to go because how often does she turn 21? It may have not been the best decision but my time with her was perfect.  

We had really good seats to One Direction, one of Alexi's favorites! I must admit i am a fan too. While my musical tastes vary, i cannot deny their music is quite catchy and infectious! It was a fun concert and ever so adorable when the boys pulled a little girl up to the stage to sign her cast.  

We explored and walked around downtown Chicago. We also decided to do the boat tour of the city. It was fascinating to see the city on the river and learn about the architecture.  Alexi was great about letting me rest but i know i pushed myself.

When i got home, i relapsed. BIG TIME. i ended up back at the doctor's, had to take more meds (lots & lots), and was back on the couch very very worn out. My lungs were so sore, actually still are but i am finally feeling better. i know better than to push myself this time. i have been taking it slow, knitting on the couch when i feel up to it, and resting most of the time. i admit i really hate this. i hate feeling weak and sore but what's a gal to do. 

i am ready to get creative but know not to push myself too much. I miss having inky  gessoed hands like i had with this layout for My Mind's Eye for this month's sketch challenge. Join the challenge and you could win your favorite MME prize pack! I love this layout with all the mixed media layers. Want to learn about creating these type of layers in your paper crafting? Take my class with Craftsy: Fun with Mixed Media! It's on sale right now and you don't want to miss this deal!

 

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

Life.

It's been busy as of late. Andrew was home for three weeks and we spent a lot of time together getting things done around the house. It was so lovely to have him home so long. Yet i often wish it was longer. i am greedy that way but i know it's ok to want to spend more time with my husband. But i am extremely grateful for all the time we had with him.  

However i am not so grateful for the cold he brought home. Andy was sick for the first few days. He left it with me and it took me down this past week. Bad sore throat, ear infection, hacking cough. You know the drill.

So i tried to combat in naturally. i knew lemon & honey helped sore throats but Jessi gave me this recipe for a lemon & honey concentrate tea. It has helped tremendously. i have been resting on the couch to let my body heal.  While i have been in "sofa city" i finished up a crochet project i have been working on for a while.

it's a baby blanket made from colorful granny squares.  It has over 100 granny squares. Once i made all the squares, i had to join them.  Thank goodness for Craftsy and this class called Joining Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman. i own one of her books and love it dearly. Her class is even better!

Made for my new grandchild. Earlier this year, we found out quite unexpectly that Anthony was going to be a father. Needless to say it took us all by surprise even though we do love his girlfriend dearly. Andrew, the whole family, and myself decided to do the best thing we could: surround him with love, help him and Cheyenne bring a new life into this world, make sure both of them continue on with their education, and let them know that every day is filled with hope. So we changed the house around, welcomed Cheyenne into our home, and created a nursery for our grandbaby who should be coming any day now.  

 

Colorado Summer Skies

i have said it before and i will say it again & again & again. i love living in Colorado. We have the most amazing skies here. It certainly helps that the sun sets against the beautiful Rocky Mountains. i completely understand the line in the poem/song "America, the Beautiful" about purple mountains majesties. When the sun says goodnight to this wonderous state, it kisses those mountains and they appear almost purple in color.  the days are equally beautiful and sometimes scary here.  It find all these colors and "moods" inspiring and they definitely find their way into my artwork. Below are a few "daily" captures of the Colorado skies taken over the past month or two.  

Do you stop & notice the skies around you? Do they inspire your creations?

 

The Art of Gardening: Planting & Growing

The garden is in full bloom & i mean that literally. It feels so good to see the fruits of our labor come springing up from the ground to fill our bellies.  i did a blog post a while ago talking about planning the garden. i am really happy i took that time for it has paid off in the long run to be a little overly organized.  However my garden is not without its moments of learning and i can already see improvements i need to make for next year. 

Some things i learned

• Start planning the garden in January so you can get the cold items in
• Birds + fruits = them eating your strawberries
• buy twice the size tomato cages than you think you'll need
• everyone had an opinion of what you should grow
• bugs are annoying, except ladybugs
• Ladybugs are so cool
• one Zucchini/Summer Squash plant is enough
• a daily trip to the garden is healing
• you can grow lots of stuff in one 3" x 6" bed
• growing vertical is both rewarding and completely frustrating

 

i decided to number my beds and keep records of what grows in them each year. i have read in enough places that i should rotate my "crops" every so often. i have a pretty good memory but it's just easier if everything is written down.  So i bought fun house numbers and added them to my beds.  i then marked off the bed with twine to plan out my square foot garden. it may seem like overkill but it really helped me keep the areas straight and made it easy for planting. Plus i really like the pretty numbers!

i used both seeds and transplanted plants i purchased from the local farms/farmer's markets. Planting the seeds seemed tedious at first (how far apart should they be? how deep do they need to be planted, how many seeds in one spot, do they need to be soaked over night?) but once i got into a routine, it seem to go much faster.  Phil, the Father-in-Law, made me and Kari these awesome planting guides we spotted on pinterest. i was so easy to space the seeds as needed. 

A sprouting seed is such a fun event. Every time i went out to the garden it was like a little present to see those beans pushing up through the dirt.  

Fairly soon my garden had all kinds of veggies sprouting. i had so much fun watching them grow and photographing them as they did.  

 

After the last frost, the tomato plants went into the ground and then i added the colorful tomato cages. When i transplanted the tomatoes, those cages looked huge. i went with four different colors for my four different varieties.  

But now, not so much. i had to find a solution to hold some of those tomato branches so i got a new trellis. The cherry tomatoes like to grow all over the place even though i have been pruning diligently. i found this tip online about using epsom salt every two weeks with tomatoes and i must say, my tomato plants are flourishing. It could be the great starter plants, the good soil, the abundance of rain, but i do think that salt plays a part.  Next year i think i will skip the cages for the cherries and use the string method to tie them up. The cage worked well for the Roma so i might use them again next year for that type of tomato plant.  

The vertical planting was a bit frustrating. i let myself be talked into a vertical frame that i just didn't like.  As it turns out, it didn't work very well either so i ended up scrapping it and started over with a more functional art approach.  i decided wood and some pretty powered coated metail trellises were more my style and i am happier i made the switch. The peas were frustrating to train. One day i would have them nicely wrapped around some twine working their way up the trellis. Overnight they would move and wrap themselves around another plant. Gah!

It is fun to make trips to the garden to see what is ready for harvesting. i find it a healing daily routine and look forward to this time of the day. The kids often join me and i find that lots of time the food doesn't even make it to the table. Anthony loves the peas in their pods, Cheyenne eats up all the cherry tomatoes (especially the black cherry), Alexi is impatiently waiting on the carrots, and Jake loves the fresh broccoli & snowpeas.  

When we do manage to get the produce to the table, it tastes amazing. Seriously fresh & tasty. Andrew declared the beets were the best he's ever tasted. 

Here's what i planted this year

• Beets (Early Wonder & Chioggia)
• Onions (Red, Valencia, & Chipollini)
• Peppers (Snack Size in Red, Orange, & Yellow)
• Carrots (Mixture, Little Fingers, Scarlet Nantes)
• Herbs (Sage, Basil, Purple Basil, Parsley, Rosemary, Oregano)
• Cherry Tomatoes (Sungold, Black Cherry, BumbleBee)
• Roma Tomato (San Marzano)
• Sugar Snap Peas
• Sugar Pod Snow Peas
• Pole Beans 
• Cucumbers (Marketmore) 
• Spinach (Bloomsdale) 
• Broccoli (Nutri-Bud)
• Kale (Dwarf Blue)
• Baby Greens 
• Celery
• Summer Squash (Early Prolific Straighneck)
• Zucchini (Black Beauty) 
• Strawberries

i love how it's progressing & producing, so much so that i have shared with friends & family.  i am already thinking of changes for next year and what i want to grow in addition to these awesome veggies. i am really happy i took the leap into the art of gardening!