la-la-la-la life goes on

So...I am, in fact, still alive. And I'm back to the blog. It feels almost awkward; I've been away so long! Assuming there is still anyone who has yet to give up on me...I just wanted you to know I'm doing just fine and all is well here. We even almost have all the repairs done on the house (five months after Hurricane Ike...but better later than never, I suppose.) Not only am I still alive, but I also return bearing big news! We're having a baby! Yes, that's right...we were as surprised as anyone. To avoid mixing too much personal with what was supposed to be strictly art and inspiration, I started a new "baby blog" (www.obladida.blogspot.com) which you're more than welcome to visit. So there...now you know. From around Thanksgiving to a week or so into January, I didn't feel well at all...and then it just seemed so overwhelming to return to blogging. Too much time had elapsed. I don't know feasibly how much time I'll keep devoting to the blog, but as long as I'm still painting and creating I don't want to let it go! Plus, I miss you blogland people I don't get to connect with any other way! Well, I just wanted to update...rebreak the ice and jump back into blogging. I'll be back soon...hopefully with some pictures!

sweetly, happily, artfully and apologetically yours,

randi

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Shoo-bee-doo-bee-doo-bah Happy Turkey Day to ya!!
Hope this Thanksgiving finds you with lots to be grateful for!!!

photo credit goes to my super talented brother, Ross. Visit him at: www.rossfrazier.com

sweetly, happily, and artfully yours,

randi

An Award and An Apology

I've been so terribly negligent of the blog lately, it's pitiful and I'm ashamed. I felt so guilty this afternoon I decided to try to catch up with at least reading some others' blogposts, if not posting one of my own. Well, lo and behold- I'd missed receiving an award! Amelia at Sweet B Folk Art gave me the Marie Antoinette Award (for blogs to lose your head over!) Morbid, perhaps...but incredibly clever and nonetheless flattering. So, thanks Amelia! One of the conditions of receiving the award is that I must bestow it on others, which I fully intend to do. But I'm going to have to make my decisions and get back to you on that. In the meantime- here's hoping you're enjoying your Thanksgiving week and my very sincerest apologies on the blogful-neglect. I'm going to get better...though it may take me until after the holidays... :(

I do miss my former frequency to blogland.

I'll be back.

sweetly, happily, and artfully yours,

randi

Cedar Town Pictures

At last! Here are some pictures of my booth at Cedar Town. Let me know what you think!

Thanks for looking!

sweetly, happily, and artfully yours,

randi

Cedartown Christmas Marketplace

I'm participating in a Christmas market this weekend (there's a preview party tonight, then Friday and Saturday are full shopping days) so I've been working very hard on ornaments and paintings to sell. Everything's packed up and ready to go. I'm leaving in just a few minutes. Just wanted to pop in and say I'm alright- just really, REALLY busy. Sorry I've neglected everything else!! I'll have lots of pictures of my booth to share when I get back home on Sunday! See you then...or if you're in the area- stop by and see me tomorrow or Saturday! *Cedartown is sponsored by Cedar Creek School of Ruston, La and is held at the Ruston Civic Center.

sweetly, happily, and artfully yours,

randi

I made fall sugar cookies for our Bible study last night. There were pumpkins and three different types of leaves. I'd never gotten to use my leaf cookie cutters and was anxious to do so. I think they turned out cute! This recipe is my Aunt Melody's and it's really the best sugar cookie recipe ever, so I thought I'd share it with you. It's great for making cookies to leave for Santa. :)

Aunt Melody's Sugar Cookies

4 sticks of butter (softened)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 T milk
2 t vanilla
6 cups flour
6 t baking powder

Cream butter and sugar, slowly add liquids, then flour (sifted with baking powder). Mix until a dough forms. Fashion into manageable portions, wrap in cellophane, and freeze for 20 minutes. (I say manageable portions because this recipe-though this is it split in half-makes LOTS of dough- too much to roll out all at once. So it's easier if you divide it into thirds or fourths and only take out of the freezer what you can easily roll out on your counter. The dough is far easier to handle when chilled. If you get too much out it gets sticky before you can finish rolling and cutting cookies.) After chilling (in freezer for 20 minutes or 'fridge for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours) roll out on flour surface and cut out cookies. Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 min.

Frosting:
4c powdered sugar
3T water
3 T milk
1 1/2 T vanilla
food coloring
If icing is too thin, add more powedered sugar; if too thick, add more milk or water. If you're going to use liquid food coloring to dye your icing, mix the frosting a bit thicker as the food coloring will thin it down. Should be easily spreadable on cooled cookies and will dry with a pretty gloss. Cookies, once dry (20 minutes) can be easily stacked on tray.
ENJOY!!

Montage the Fourth

I've been taking pictures left and right, always thinking that I'll get a chance to post, but lately...well...that just hasn't happened. Though I've been busy, it's more a case of my poor time management- which is ever my downfall. And, since the heat has dissipated, we've been spending more time outside, enjoying the weather and autumn stuff in general. However, today, the memory card on my camera was finally full and I was forced to upload them to the computer and I decided today was as good a day as any to make myself put some up here to share. Thus, montage the 4th.
I begin with this: I tried this Tropicana Pure juice blend the other day because they had them at the store in little bottles, and if you're a juice fanatic like I am, I suggest you do so, too. They're yummy. Thus far I've had blueberry pomegranate and raspberry acai. I can vouch for the deliciousness of both.
Second, I made cinnamon dough ornaments. While I've tried this before, and have had marginal results (mostly dough that was too wet or too crumbly), this time I was determined and found success. I did have to add some extra applesauce and did a lot of kneading. The recipe I used was Martha Stewart's found here. They do take a while to dry, though. And they must be turned often so they won't curl up. I'll post another picture once they're decorated. Also in the kitchen- we had the Lowerys over for dinner on Tuesday so I fixed Hungarian Goulash (recipe here- also Martha's). It's one of my favorite fall/winter meals. Though the prep work can be somewhat lengthy- it's a make ahead meal so it's worth it. Fresh baked bread and gingerbread with Extra Creamy Cool Whip rounded out the best autumn meal I've served this year (if I might say so myself)!...and while we're on the subject of food...I've had two really cute doughnuts in the past couple of weeks. Naturally, I photographed them. A pink iced doughnut with sprinkles, and a raspberry filled all dressed up for halloween! Now Halloween leads me to...Gatsby! I took a picture of him because he'd gone to the Plush Puppy and they always send him home with a really cute bandana. Of course, this week it was a halloween one.Finally, since Halloween is almost here and past, and Christmas will be here before you know it, I couldn't help getting a few new decorations, because Kohls has this whole Sugar and Spice collection this year (and it's 50% off this week). These things will go perfectly with all my sweet Christmas decor! :)

Well, that's all for now. Here's hoping everyone's able to do a little blog neglecting, too, in lieu of enjoying the fall!! Happy week before Halloween!

sweetly, happily, and artfully yours,

randi