OH, YEAH, BABY, FUN IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!

I had the hardest time deciding what to title this post...there were so many elements to choose from, so I just settled on "Oh, yeah, baby, FUN is right around the corner!" It seems to cover it all in a wide scope kind of way. . .

REGISTRATION FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL PAPER COWGIRL ART RETREAT BEGINS ON MARCH 1ST AT http://www.papercowgirl.blogspot.com/.

This year it's (the retreat) being bumped up and it's going to be amazing! More classes, Vendor's night, shopping at a most incredible scrapbook store, the Hampton Hotel as base, and on and on and on! So, go to the Paper Cowgirl blog, get all the scoop on the classes, shopping, registration information (REGISTRATION BEGINS MARCH 1ST), and, if you can, make your way to the Paper Cowgirl Art Retreat, June 26 - 27!!

Now, I wouldn't be me, would I, if I didn't tell you that I'm teaching one of the classes! So, let's just all say it together. . ."Jan's teaching an amazing class!" LOL

Below is a picture of a canvas I did for my dad a couple of years ago and it gives you a *slight* idea of what my class is about...you'll get more information on the P.C. blog on March 1st and the REAL PROTO-TYPE will be posted there, too.

But, I wanted to give you an idea of what to expect in my class, Home is Where Art Begins. It's going to be so much fun, family themed and I hope to teach everyone at least one thing they don't already know! LOL

That being said, and knowing how wonderful all of the other classes and teachers are, your socks are going to be blessed right off of your feet if you're a part of this amazing weekend!

Thanks for reading my blog! Y'all are simply wonderful!!

XOXO,

. . Jan

A RECIPE FROM MICHIGAN THAT IS QUESTIONABLE AT BEST...heehee

Actually, that's not entirely true..........the title of this post.
The recipe I'm going to share with you IS from Michigan and it WOULD be questionable if it wasn't my mother's recipe (she's a great cook).

The reason it would be questionable is because it's a recipe for Beef-Bean ENCHILADAS and everyone knows that you can't get decent enchiladas in Michigan.............. (please send all complaint letters for that crack to Oprah)

Mom's BEEF-BEAN ENCHILADAS

1 1/2 # ground beef, crumbled (which, in Texas, would mean that you could use axis meat and, also, we wouldn't put "crumbled" in the recipe - that should be a given. Uh, duh.)
1 onion, chopped (I feel I need to tell you that in Texas we would use a red onion - just in case you're a northerner making this dish)
1 - 1# can refried beans (Now, I would buy the refried beans with jalapenos. We can get those in Texas, but I'm not sure you can get them with jalapenos up north or that you could stand them even if you can find them.)
1 t. salt

1/8 t. garlic powder (Now, here's where I have to ask, "why bother?")

1/2 C. canned or bottled TACO sauce (never heard of it, actually. Might just be a Yankee thing. If I can't find it in Texas, I'll use Enchilada sauce.)

1 C. pitted chopped black olives ("pitted"? ya think???)

2 - 10 oz. cans of enchilada sauce (sure hope you can find that taco sauce)

Salad oil

12 corn tortillas (For those of you that are true Yankees, like my sister, Joan, you tend to pronounce this "tor-teel-yas". Now, as I've told Joan, on more than one occasion, that makes her sound purely stupid. The correct pronunciation is "tor-tee-ahs". Practice)

Oh, and, fyi, my family prefers to use flour tortillas and not just because it makes the recipe easier for me to fix either (you don't soften the flour tortillas in oil).

3 C. shredded cheddar cheese (Ladies. Ladies. Ladies. You don't use cheddar cheese when making Mexican food. You use shredded AMERICAN CHEESE. You buy it in a block at the deli and shred it by hand. See??? Kinda scary recipe, huh.)

In a frying pan, saute ground beef and onions until the meat is browned and onions are soft. Stir in beans, salt, garlic powder, taco sauce, and olives; heat until bubbly.

Pour about half of the enchilada sauce into a greased 9 X 13" pan.

If you're using corn tortillas, pour oil into a frying pan big enough to fit a corn tortilla.

Heat and dip tortillas, one at a time, in hot oil to soften; drain quickly and blot with paper towels.

Place about 1/3 up of the meat mixture on each tortilla and roll to enclose filling.

Place, seam sides down, into sauce in pan.

Pour remaining enchilada sauce evenly over tortillas; cover with cheese.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 20 - 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

When you serve these, mom always has garnishes - olive slices (redundant), chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream and picante sauce (NOT Pace. Please.)

These really are good.

Thank goodness mom has a southern Texas daughter, huh.

So.

Let me know if you like my mom's Enchiladas (in-chee-lah-das - heehee)!

We're leaving in the morning for Texas - PRAISE GOD! - and when we get home, this is probably what Frank's going to want for supper very soon after my arrival - I'll bet he hasn't had any since I left five weeks ago unless my BFF made him some!

So.

Since I don't have a picture of Mexican food, this dish in particular, or a lady cooking, I'm letting you see my kitchen where I'll be fixin my enchiladas this weekend.

I can't wait!!

Thanks for reading my post, ladies. I do so love you!

XOXO,

. . . . . Jan

A SNEAK PREVIEW OF SOME FABULOUS TAGS!

Two previous posts not to miss:

• THERE'S AN ART RETREAT IN TEXAS!!
• "I got AWESOME!!!"

Hi, y'all! I have been trying to get a few things accomplished at my worktable before mom and I load up the car and head for Texas! It seems like I've spent most of my time here working on my computer - necessary, but not the fun part of having two web shops!
These tags and a picture of part of their coordinating envelopes are just to give you a glimpse of what I've been up to besides shopping online. LOL
These first two tags are two of a set of eight that are the same theme, but different looking tags, all with wonderful and different accents - clear as usual, huh!

They'll be listed for sale in my lollishop . . . . .and maybe half of them in my Etsy shop.

This is the front left side of the envelope - I like to do a little something to the envelopes to make the tag and envelope look like a set. *smiley face* Oh, these next tags are so stinkin' cute! There's six of them, they're all different, but they all have a cute little cupcake under the smaller tag on top that can be moved. Isn't that a darling idea? LOL - Okay, I thought it was darling! And, you get a peek of the coordinating envelope that comes with each tag.

These tags, all with wonderful glitter and other great embellishments, will be listed in my Lollishop.

See the "hidden" cupcake on the tag on the left? The cupcake is still hidden on the tag on the right. What a fun surprise!


Well, that was fun! I just love showing you the things I'm working on!
I hope you're having a wonderful moment looking at them...........thanks so much for stopping by!


XOXO,

, , , , ,Jan

LIVING IN GRATITUDE

Today one of my dearest blogger friends, Tina of Sweetina, blessed my blog with TWO awards!
I am delighted and humbled to be so highly thought of by one of my readers.
I have been surprised recently, within the last four months or so, shocked, actually, to find readers *that I refer to as "lurkers"* that I didn't even know I had, when they have reached out to me for whatever reason. (I'm pretty sure my h.s. English teacher would be wincing after reading that sentence!)
I have been so blessed by all of my readers, especially the ones I "know" by their comments.
But, every time I post I am also very aware of the readers that choose to remain 'anonymous'.

My blogging is more than an online journal.
It's me sharing my life with you in an attempt to bless you.
My readers enrich my life and are the reason I fight for time to blog.

Thanks, Tina, for the awards, but more importantly, for being such a sweet friend.


THE LEMONADE AWARD is awarded to bloggers who show great attitude and gratitude.

Upon receiving The Lemonade Award, you are to pass it on to other bloggers that you think show great attitude and gratitude.


The authors say that the blogs who receive the following award are exceedingly charming.
This blog invests in PROXIMITY in space, time, and relationships.
These kind of bloggers aim to find and be friends.
They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement (is that a word???).
Their hope is that even more friendships will be made.

Upon receiving these awards, you also pass them on to other bloggers that you think show great attitude and gratitude. They also care more about the relationships made through their blogging then they do awards, prizes or "strokes".

Here are the rules:

1. Put the logos on your blog.

2. Nominate at least 8 blogs which show great attitude and or gratitude.

3. Link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

In going through my list of favorite blogs, ones that bless me when I read them, I choose to pick the bloggers that are so good at staying in touch with me and my blog, even when I'm so busy with life that I feel like I'm neglecting them. What I'm trying to say is that these bloggers don't read my blog because I read theirs. They keep up with me because they have great attitude and live their lives in gratitude - and keeping up with me is one of the blessings that comes from the way that they live their lives.

Clear as mud, huh.

MY CHOICES TODAY:

1. Tina of Glue on my Fingers

2. Cindy of Yapping Cat Studio

3. Mindy of Primitiques 'N Poetry

4. Rhonda of Rhonda Mum

5. Chas of The Wild Raspberry

6. Pam of Pam Warden Art

7. Teresa of Cedar Junction Studio

8. Sally of My Little Blog Spot

Congratulations to all!!!

(I understand if anyone awarded does not accept awards or tags on their blogs. If that is the case, then simply know that you are very appreciated and adored!) *as are all of my readers!!*

XOXO,

. . .Jan

THERE'S AN ART RETREAT IN TEXAS!!

"I know!!" An art retreat IN TEXAS!!

NOT in Oregon!

NOT in Virginia!

NOT in Washington!

NOT in California!

IN TEXAS!!

You get it..........I can get to THIS retreat in my CAR with my top down (not "my top", my car's convertible top)

Tina Wright of Glue on my Fingers and Cindy Mayfield of Yapping Cat Studio are the brains behind this retreat. This year is the Paper Cowgirl's second year - last year was a HUGE success so they really didn't have a choice, did they?

I say they're the "brains" but they're really more than that........they came up with the idea (bless you, girls!), set the date, found the site, the teachers, advertised, made name tags (and they were cuh-yoot!), did all of the work that is involved in putting on an art retreat, and believe me, there is a LOT of work! And to say that it was a success would be saying too little! IT WAS A HOOT!!! Oh, and the most fun, delightful women attended - really, they were wonderful and I hope every one of them comes back this year!

This year's retreat is June 26th and 27th, with two full days of fabulous classes taught by outstanding teachers, a glorious vendor's night, access to one of the most amazing scrapbook stores I've ever had the pleasure of spending Frank the Tank's money, yummy food and shopping!

I know the amount of planning that will be put in by Tina and Cindy will make this the best little whorehouse, oh, wait, *yikes!* the best little art retreat in Texas.

So, whether you're a real Texan or just want to play Texan for a long weekend, check out the Paper Cowgirl blog because there's going to be something for everyone and I want you to come! (I'm teaching a FUN, FUN, FUN class)

Got questions? .....You're a loyal reader - email me - I'll get them answered! polkadotbarn@gmail.com

XOXO,

. . .Jan

DO R.A.K.'s GET YOU A HEATED BATHROOM FLOOR IN YOUR ROOM IN HEAVEN???

.

.

R.A.K. = Random Acts of Kindness

.

Oh, I'm just joshin' y'all. I don't really wonder about the heated bathroom floor -
I'm pretty sure it's true.

I wanted to let you know about a couple of things - this info' is my R.A.K. ...

There's not a lot going on here at mom's, but there are a lot of things going on in the art blogging world! There is a website that I really haven't had time to do much more than enter the artist's giveaway and read her profile, but I wanted to tell you about it. You know why?
Why I would bother to tell you about this particular blog giveaway out of the hundreds that are going on right now? (ie., OWOH and other fabulous giveaways!)

Okay. Why? Because I really like her (this blogger). I'm going to go back tonight *after 24* and read her blog in hopes that I can get to know her better and maybe we'll become blog friends.
So, go to Treasures from the Heart and enter her blog giveaway! (It's a really good one)
And, while I've got your attention, I simply must tell you about this really cool shop, the Beautiful Life, I found on the web.
It's wonderful and there's no postage charges. woo. hoo.
And, real quickly, check out another new one I found, the Pink Funny Farm - remembering at both shops that my half-birthday is March 1st and I adore presents.
Adore them.
Presents.
I adore presents.
But, of course, you probably already knew that.


And, while I may adore presents, I don't adore them as much as I adore YOU!!

XOXO,

. . . .Jan