Birthday cake for Madeleine

It is Madeleine's 6th Birthday and Peter helped me decorate her Barbie cake.  He placed the flowers and made a heart with her initial in the center.   Check out the pasties he placed perfectly...LOL
Mathka said her hands are in the air because she is shouting wooo hooo it is Madeleine's Birthday!

Just a perfect yellow rose to enjoy.

Happy, Happy Spring is in the air!

 Every month Mom & I attend the Stamp of the Month class at Buffalo Stamps & Stuff and this collection is from Great Impressions.  Sharon walks us through the process of creating wonderful cards that are perfect to add to our stash.  And, hey...I actually finish the cards instead of just inking them.  :)

They are so pretty and perfect for Mother's Day or any time you want to send a special note to someone.

Pink is my favorite color.  :)

While I was at Buffalo Stamps & Stuff I found a perfect House Mouse wooden stamp for Easter.  I am almost finished with the coloring...just need a few more steps to make it ready for a card.

Bella and I went up north to attend a bridal shower for the lovely, Margaret.  While we were visiting, Bella found a great place to watch what was going on outside at the farm.

Peter drew a really great picture in school this week.  It is a drawing of a nascar race with all the fans cheering on #95.  I thought it was interesting that he made each fan a different color.  :)

I decided to attend Springtime in the Country at the Hamburg Fairgrounds (for the first time) and had a wonderful discovery!  I got to meet the most amazing artist, Mitzi.  She is as lovely inside as she is on the outside and she can create incredible mosaics.  This delightful whimsical mirror is now hanging over my computer desk and I LOVE it.  Have you ever met someone and it felt like it was supposed to happen?  This was one of those rare fantastic moments.  She will be at the Christmas in the Country Show during November, find her booth...you will be so glad you did.

Great food and a sign of Spring !

I tried this new recipe today and it was SO good and it is really simple to do also.  I was watching Paula Deen and Chris Rock's mom on Food Network.

It is delicious and simply chicken breast, celery and sweet onions with a few spices.  Of course Jim loves his veggies so we added some fresh steamed carrots too.  I used the left overs for a terrific chicken (I added a few onion/celery mixture) sandwich on fresh rye bread the next day.

I put together a quick card that I am sending to a special lady, Joyce. She attends the Stamp of the Month Class at Buffalo Stamps & Stuff each month and we really look forward to sharing laughter with her.

Oh, the sun is SOOO bright, love it.  Peter, Bella & I went for a nice outdoor afternoon adventure.

We stopped out in the wood shop and found Papa Jim working on some cutting boards.  :)

 All the wood strips glued and clamped together, ready f or the next step.

Spring is showing up and we LOVE it !  Welcome, welcome oh yes, WELCOME !

Bella with those BIG eyes!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE coloring with my big girl crayons

 Bella decided to sit in the glorious sun this morning while I colored a little...with my morning java.

Ok, is is just me?  But, don't you LOVE this image?  Perhaps it is those long dark winter months but I want to be her and sipping a perfectly made cosmo.  This and the images below were purchased from Mo Manning's new digital stamp web site .  Check it out.  The paper that I will make the card from is My Minds Eye, Penny Lane.  Ok, so those of you that know me "I HOPE to make the card"  I love to color the images and watch them come to life but I think I need to find someone to work a deal with.  I will color the images and they can make the card..whatcha think?  I have several hundred images, just check out below for the copics markers that I used. 

I have several weddings coming up this summer so I am planing ahead for some beautiful cards, isn't this flower girl just precious?

Two more images from Mo's Manning's digital stamp site.

So this is the view from the back of the house...all I see is sunshine and blue sky, what snow?
Have a great day!

coloring fun and a NEW addition to the stromecki family

 So while I was taking a class at Buffalo Stamps & Stuff the UPS man came in with a new box of stamps, upon opening them of course I found some that I JUST HAD to have!
I love watching them come to life with color.

 Happy Birthday to you !

Easter is on the way...



Here she is Bella with one of her biggest fans, Peter.  She is a cavachon,  a mix of Ruby Cavalier King and Bichon Frise and only 9 weeks old.  She sleeps all night and is doing really well on the pee pads.  I am SO happy, she is a real blues chaser!  Welcome Bella!

Mardi Gras, a new book and the next generation wood worker

Last Friday Jim and I went to a wonderful place for buffet dinner, delicious drinks and live music New Orleans style. Jim had the sazerac cocktails and I had a few hurricane cocktails.  Yummy authentic feast too.  The Tuscarora Inn is a GREAT fun time.  They have an amazing Sunday brunch too, check it out.  Let me know, I will go with ya.  :)

We enjoyed the sound of "Sophisticated Swing" with Jimmy Sansone (pictured above).  I used to have a shop on the Boardwalk in Olcott (many moons ago) and sometimes I would be lucky enough to hear him play outside his home in the evening over the lake, it was such a lucky treat for me.  He has amazing talent.

This is a mini album that is made out of paper lunch bags.  I have the basic idea finished and now I need to add the embellishments such as ribbon, brads, bling and dressing up the card inserts. 

The paper is a block that is designed by Susan Winget.  Her fabric collection is just as lovely.

Butterflies, butterflies and yes, I love butterflies.  :)

Jim's son Jake is creating a beautiful wooden heart box while he is home visiting from Albany.  He looks pretty excited to be covered in wood dust.

Jake made the pattern free form.  Below is the heart box with a light coat of varnish.  Great job Jake.

Fun in so many ways

So, during one of my card making classes, Sharon opens up a box of new mo manning stamps and more.  Shut the front door! is all I can say.  I HAD to have them.  I know it is a sickness but oh how happy am I to see them come to life!

Wishing for Spring I found this lovely burst of "wanna be real"  flowers that will make a wonderful bouquet for my living room.

For Valentine's Day we made cut out cookies to frost and of course, eat.  Along with a yummy heart shaped pizza and for the mom's, chocolate infused wine.  Yum, yum.