Coffee Surprise

I make a big cup of coffee every morning using the pour over method. Not that I want to do anything fancy but that it takes a lot less room on the counter. I add oat milk and coco power first. Read that heat activates the chocolate to be more chocolatey. Having the hot coffee hitting the coco first thing should in theory work. Really, I don't notice the difference. 

This morning my coffee did this layering thing. Never has happened before so I just had to take a picture. Coffee didn't taste any different after I whipped it all together. 
 

Persimmon Time

 

It's that time of year! Like zucchini, persimmons pop up everywhere. It's so nice to see such a bright spot of color when the trees drop all their leaves. I like to make cookies with these when they get nice a squishy = over ripe. Now I just have to find a gluten free recipe. Baking isn't something I do well so improvising never works out. Persimmons are a very popular image in  Japan. I have a small collection of ceramic ones to go along with the ones I mom gave me. 

Crafting Haul On the Cheap

Do I need more craft supplies? No, I do not but did that stop me? :)

A large crafting stash came into Cottage Craft on Saturday and priced low enough that I just couldn't resist. I do plan to make more photo journals for the kids as I hone my book binding skills. I've been looking for a larger alphabet stamp set to personalize the journals. That's one thing I never had in my crafting stash. 

Sandy Allnock (check out Sandy's video "Favorite Fives of '25) and the Frugal Crafter, Lindsay Weirich have been using gel plates a lot lately. It's inspiring me to gather up more collage type stamps. I haven't purchased a wood mounted stamp in years but it was only a $1.00. Every crafter should check out Cottage Craft's ZZ booth for the best deal on craft supplies. 

 

Christmas Tree the Dutch Way

This is how one gets a Christmas tree home in Holland.  

They don't have access to cutting a tree down like we do here. That is one thing I miss doing with the kids. I know they loved running up and down the hills and climbing the big oak trees. Family tradition I wish we could continue. 
 

ATC Swap 2025 - Sandy Allnock

I joined Sandy Allnock's (artist I follow on YouTube) ATC swap and the theme is winter. I came across a big bag of  larger beads  I normally use at the thrift store. Since they remind me of those little jelly candies, I gave them a try. I knew I wanted to make a Christmas tree and have a watercolor background. Sandy is an amazing watercolor artist and always inspiring. I wanted to have some type of  watercolor on my card in her honor. Didn't turn out the way I wanted after many attempts but I'm still a newbie.

My finally version looks more like a Christmas card and thicker than the standard ATC but I'm going for it. Each part was fun to make and I use what I had in my huge stash of craft supplies. 

Warm and Sunny In California - 2025

It was such a beautiful day that I decided to tackle trimming back the neighbor's tree that hangs into our yard. It makes a hot mess with dropping leaves everywhere. They have a gardener come every week so it's no big deal for them. Filled two large recycle bins and still there's a pile of branches waiting to be chopped up. 

Not sure if this praying mantis was in the tree but it showed up after I was done getting what I could in the recycling bins. It hung around for a long time enjoying the warm weather. I like to think it's a positive sign of good things coming my way. :) 
 

Very Big Santa

I picked up this Santa at auction last month. I didn't realize how tall it was until I blew it up. It was a crack up when I saw that it kept getting taller and taller! Had to redesign where it was going out in the yard. That lead to having to trim back the overgrown bushes that we've been ignoring. I since have trimmed back a neighbor's tree that has been hanging over the main house's roof and raked that millions of leave from a very messy peppercorn tree. Seriously thinking of cleaning out the gutters but I'm not quite tall enough to do that without getting on the very top step of the ladder. 

Got creative with my holiday tree.

view from my window

I couldn't decide if I should spend the money on getting a real tree since it would be over $100. It was worth it when the boys were here to hike around the hills and cut a tree down, but it's just me now.  I've been looking for a fake tree too but again the prices are just too high especially since I know after the holidays everything will go on sale. It's the thrifter in me. :)  I saw an old post of what I did when I lived up in the Cupertino hills. I used a tomato cage to make several trees. So I decided why not give it a try here. For the topper I used a dog topiary frame I had. Makes me smile because it looks like the dog is doing her business. Not sure how to fix that issue. :) 

When things make you feel old.

It was one of those surprised moments when you just slap your forehead. When I was going down to the Carmel house a lot, I would take a portable CD player. Had the same old one for years. Then I dropped it while unloading my car and it broke into a thousand pieces. I didn't think finding another one would be so hard. I've been searching for over 2 years now. All that I've picked up (5 and counting) either from the thrift store or friends, the CD part doesn't work. I guess there's a shelf life to the CD part. 

I picked up  what I thought was only a DVD player. I still haven't figure out how to connect my old devices to the big screen TV in my place. I don't watch enough TV to pay for a service which with all these high tech screens you have to do. The ads for everything else are longer than whatever movie I want to watch.  I'm guessing this small player was meant to be used in the car back in the day. As I was cleaning up and I looked at what device this booklet went to. Then I saw it - it was both a DVD AND CD player. Who knew one player could do both! That just makes me feel old. I've had this player for a few months now and never knew. So of course the first thing I did was gave it try and yes it works. :) 

 

My mini Savers haul 2025

I had things to drop off at Savers and of course I had to go in to check things out - market research. :) Tuesday is senior discount day (30% off) so it's always busy. 

A friend was looking for a big French press but none have come into the store and the online auctions have gone way too high. I not only did I find one at Savers but it was also PYREX (all upper case) which was an added bonus. $5 after the senior discount. SCORE!

My impulse buy was these ashtrays that were hanging in a bag on the wall. For small things at Savers, they bag everything. I don't smoke but ashtrays do resell well. The other reason I got them was to use them as pen/paint brush holders. I follow Sandy Allnock an artist (check out her You Tube videos) who does a lot of pen and ink. She has a little crab pen holder which is super cute and made me want one of my own. I was thrilled when my ink pen fit perfectly in these ash trays. I like to think it's a little more up scale with an Asian twist. :)

My version of up-cycling and to justify buying all 12 of them. :) Yes, I will sell off most of them. Set of four was $4.20 after the discount. 

 

Fly By Jing Noodle Kit

There are specialty YouTubers who do reviews on the Asian foods at Costco. With the large Asian population in the Bay Area, it's no surprise what you can find at Costco. My daughter is a big fan of Fly By Jing, so I wanted to give this a try. It's a wheat based noodle so it's not something I can eat all the time. I think it's a little on the expensive side but I grew up with cup of noodles. :) It broke down to $2.00 a packet. Overall it was very good. Add a little protein and it would make a nice side dish. Not enough for a full meal, at least for me. :)  

Now the debate is if I should keep it or ship it off to my son. Because of my gluten issues is the only reason I wouldn't keep it.  

Mini retreat

One of the things I miss about the Carmel house is the gas fireplace. Years ago when I remodeled my big house I decided not to add a fireplace. I knew having a wood burning fireplace would be banned at some point and I would rather have the wall space for art. Now gas fireplaces are a thing but I think I would still choose not to have one. 

I'm hanging out at my friend's house binge watching the Great British Baking show and doing some cooking. They have a lovely gas fireplace, something I think they just converted. Very cozy with the storm that's coming through right now.  Just need to find a good book to read. :)