As We Say Goodbye to 2016...

I want to wish you all...

May your year be full of joy, prosperity, and purpose!

Merry Christmas to All!

I am taking time off over the holiday weekend.  My eBay store is closed, but will re-open on 12-26-16. 

Until then, I wish you all the happiest of holidays.  I am looking forward to a very happy and peaceful few days, doing things I enjoy, being with loved ones I enjoy, and celebrating the holiday free of drama -- what a blessing!

Photos of My Christmas Wreath

I completed my Christmas wreath just a while ago.  

All the materials I used came from one of my favorite stores, the glorious Dollar Tree, with the exception of the ribbon used to hang it.  I had some ribbon from the Dollar Tree, but it was too wide to look good, so I had to improvise on that, using items I had in my ribbon drawer.

I chose the colors of silver and red mostly because by the time I went to pick up the items (and I went in November), the Christmas decor items were pretty well picked over.  

The really fun part of making this was taking some of the items apart and fashioning them to work in ways I needed.  Also, rather than using a wreath form as the base, I just used a Dollar Tree 15-foot garland and left it rolled up, using floral wire in a couple of places to keep it from unrolling.  I don't like using forms, so this was a good alternative for me.

Anyway, here are a couple of photos.  I did not take photos of it hanging on my door because the lighting is so dim in our hallway where I live, and it is so hard to get a good photo.  So you all are seeing it when it was still on my art desk.

Store is Closed for Christmas and Tasty Tuesday Recipe

Christmas Week is Underway

Since it is too late now to reliably expect packages to arrive at their destinations in time for Christmas, and sales are winding down as people prepare for the holidays, I have closed my eBay store until December 27.  I have a lot to get done around my home, and I have been putting off making my Christmas wreath for my front door, so I want to get that done -- will share photos here when it is complete.  My goal is to handle that tomorrow.  Today is devoted to catching up on laundry.  Thursday I need to put together 2 IKEA carts to use for storage in my studio.  They will both have wheels, so they will offer lots of flexibility on placement as needs change.

For Tasty Tuesday, I have a recipe for an easy main dish meal using chicken:  

Chicken Paprika

Ingredients:

2 pounds chicken parts

2 Tablespoons cooking oil or shortening

1 can of condensed cream of chicken soup

1 Tablespoon of lemon juice (try to use juice from an actual lemon rather than bottled lemon juice)

1/2 teaspoon paprika

Instructions:

1)  In skillet, brown chicken in shortening or cooking oil.  Pour off fat.

2)  Stir in remaining ingredients.  

3)  Cover, and cook over low heat until done (roughly 45 minutes).  Make sure to stir occasionally.

4)  Serve over hot cooked noodles or rice.

Optional add-in items (add in when the soup is added):

* 1 cup frozen peas that have been thawed with hot water and drained.

* 1 small can of mushroom pieces and stems.

You can make this as a very basic recipe, or you can add the additional items suggested, or come up with some of your own add-ins.  It's a simple meal, cooked in one pan, and good protein when the family has a lot going on during the holiday preparations.

I hope to be back tomorrow with some photos of my wreath -- I am making it exclusively with items I found at Dollar Tree (one of my favorite places).

Tasty Tuesday and Brrrr....

Happy Tasty Tuesday, All!

It is COLD here today.  When I left the house to mail packages and run errands this morning, it was Two degrees BELOW Zero Fahrenheit.  The cars made little clouds of steam from their exhaust pipes as they traveled down the freeway -- the kind that turns to ice when it hits the pavement.  It was sunny, though, and driving was okay.

At this time of year (just before Christmas), I wish I could hold things in place for a while to keep Christmas from coming and going so soon.  Every year, the whoosh of time goes faster.

Today's recipe is a simple and tasty one, a side dish / salad to accompany most types of meals, fancy or casual.

Broccoli Bacon Cheddar Salad

Ingredients:

3 cups broccoli florets, cut to bite-size

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup raisins, either regular or golden raisins are fine

1/4 cup chopped red onion

8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

Dressing Ingredients:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 tea spoons lemon juice (from an actual lemon if possible rather than the bottled stuff)

Instructions:

1)  In large bowl, combine broccoli, cheese, raisins, and onion.  

2)  In small bowl, combine dressing ingredients.

3)  Pour dressing over salad and toss gently.

4)  Top salad with cooked crumbled bacon and serve.

I hope you are having a good week and that you are enjoying the season.  Stay warm where ever you are.

A Bunch of Items On Sale for Christmas!

The days until Christmas are counting down fast.  

It feels sort-of like things go slowly and then all of a sudden we are catapulted into the "hurry-up" zone.

The United States Postal Service gives these guidelines for Christmas package delivery (for within the United States Only): 

1)  For First Class packages, the package must be shipped by December 20.  This means the order must be made and paid by the customer by end of day, December 19.

2)  For Priority Mail packages, the package must be shipped by December 21.  This means the order must be made and paid by the customer by end of day, December 20.

The USPS website does not give timing information for International Order Christmas delivery, so I don't know the exact rules on that.  All I can say is if you want items sent Internationally and want the items to arrive by Christmas, I am estimating it would need to ship in the next day or two, but that is only a guess on my part.  Ideally, it would have already been shipped.  But that is ultimately up to the postal service in the United States and those services in the countries through and to which the package must be sent.

I am currently running discounts of up to 20% off the original prices on many, many items in my eBay store.  Offerings include several items that would be lovely (or fun, or both) given as gifts.  Shop from the comfort of your home by stopping in here:  http://stores.ebay.com/abundant-empress .

Here are some photos (along with the actual eBay URLs) of a few of the items that are currently on discount in my store:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Handmade-Pottery-Vase-Signed-by-Artist-Round-Low-Browns-Black-/142156730291?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wood-Bird-Figurine-Folk-Art-Style-Green-Red-Farmhouse-Decor-Woodland-Rustic-/142177230429?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Steampunk-Meets-Old-West-Industrial-Art-Metal-Sculpture-Cowboy-Horse-Western-/142033830705?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rocking-Bunny-Rabbit-Vintage-Style-Children-Quilt-Whimsical-Playful-Christmas-/141987685643?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bull-Figurine-Carved-Mesquite-Wood-Agate-Southwest-Western-Taurus-Tan-Gold-Gray-/142039719252?category=

So come on in to the store and look around,  I add new items daily.

And while we prepare for the fast-approaching holidays, I hope you will find peace and calm and joy in your midst.  

A Saintly Day, Tasty Tuesday, and Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Greetings Everyone, and Happy Saint Nicholas Day!

Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated in Europe (most especially in Germany), and it is the day when the beloved saint rides on his white horse into the towns and villages to leave gifts and treats in the shoes of the children who have been good during the past year.  To those children who were not so good, he leaves a lump or two of coal.  I am guessing, though, that the ratio of coal given is quite low to the amount of happy gifts given.

And it is Tasty Tuesday Today!

As I am still focusing on holiday preparations and general busyness, I am sharing a recipe for a meal that is simple and satisfying and does not take long to prepare.  It is an excellent winter meal, great comfort food.  It is not so much a health food, though you can modify it by adding foods with additional nutritional value.  I actually do this myself.  I will let you know what I add to this recipe at the end of the Ingredients list.

Sausage and Potato Casserole (or Hotdish as we say in Minnesota)

Ingredients:

1 pound bulk pork sausage or ground pork

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup (do not add water)

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 tsp, salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

3 cups sliced potatoes

1/2 Tbsp. butter, cut into small pieces

1 and 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

What I add to this (optional): 

1/2 cup carrots, sliced thin or chopped small and sauteed in butter for about 2 minutes.

1/2 cup celery, chopped small and sauteed in butter for about 2 minutes (can do this with the carrots).

1/2 can of whole kernel corn, drained, OR 1/2 cup of frozen whole kernel corn, thawed and drained.

If you do add extra ingredients, you may want to add a bit more milk for moistness (it's up to you).

Instructions:

1)  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  

2)  Spray 1 and 1/2- quart casserole with non-stick cooking spray.  Use 2-quart casserole if you are adding the optional ingredients listed above in addition to the regular ingredients.

3)  Brown sausage or ground pork in large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring to separate meat into small chunks.  Brown meat until no longer pink.  Drain fat.

4)  Stir together soup, milk, onion, salt, and pepper in mixing bowl (if you are adding in additional ingredients, add them to the bowl as well).

5)  Place half of potatoes in prepared casserole dish.  Top with half of soup mixture and half of sausage or ground pork.  Repeat layers, ending with sausage.

6) Dot with butter.

7)  Cover casserole with tin foil.  Bake 1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 hours until potatoes are tender.  

8)  Uncover; sprinkle with cheese.  Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Makes 6 servings.

I hope you enjoy this casserole meal.  It is perfect on a cold, blustery day.

And speaking of, Old Man Winter blew in today like a shock.  I know I should have been more than ready for it since I am in Minnesota, and Winter is what we do.  Still, the first big blast of cold wind sends the shivers to the bone.  I confess that on days like this it can be hard to keep my energy up; all I want to do is wear jammies, snuggle under the covers, and read a book.  But the cats are the ones who get to do that, except for the book part.  

Making Up for the Lost Tasty Tuesday

Yes, I missed it.  Tasty Tuesday got away from me this week...

So I am setting about making it right by posting the Tasty Tuesday recipe on Thursday.  Because why shouldn't I confuse things once in a while?

First, I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving Day and weekend.  I had a beautiful Thanksgiving -- peaceful, blessed with loved ones, and free of any ridiculous bruhaha.  It was a wonderful day, and that made it easy to get back into my work routine and get things rolling in business again afterward. 

As we head into Christmas time, I will be focusing on recipes that: 1) Make the days a little easier by saving you time and trouble during this busy season, 2)  Offer options for different types of meals or events around the holidays -- such as snacks to accompany favorite movies or games with friends and family, 3) Include a variety of nourishing foods for meals as well as decadent foods for desserts, treats, and sweets. 

Today's Recipe is for Hunter Stew (with Chicken), an easy feast to make in the slow cooker or crock pot so you can plug it in early in the day and enjoy it for your supper in the evening.  

Ingredients:

3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into pieces of about 2 inches by 1 inch.

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped into pieces about 1 inch square.

1 medium onion, sliced thin.

1 (15- ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained,

1 (14- ounce) jar (about 1 and 1/2 cups) tomato pasta sauce (such as Prego, Ragu, Classico).

1 (8- ounce) can mushroom stems and pieces, drained.

Instructions:

1)  Combine all ingredients in 3 or 4-quart slow cooker.

2)  Cover, and cook on low setting for 6 to 7 hours.

This meal is hearty and healthy and will work very well to feed your family with little fuss or hassle as you are likely busy with a lot of other things this holiday season.

Head over to my Abundant Empress Facebook page to find another recipe for a toasty-cheesy snack for informal nights in the home with the family or when friends stop over.  You can click the Facebook page button on the upper left of this blog.

Tasty Tuesday -- More Autumn Seasonal Delights

This recipe will work great for the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend, as a breakfast treat with coffee or tea, or as a snack.

Apple Cinnamon Scones

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1 and 1/4 cup oats

1 apple -- peeled, cored, and diced (I often use Haralson or Braeburn apples for baking, but you can use a type you prefer).

1 egg

10 Tbsp. butter, melted

1/3 cup whole milk

A blend of cinnamon and sugar

Instructions:

1)  Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit

2)  In large mixing bow, whisk together flour, sugar, and baking powder.

3)  Stir in oats and diced apple.

4)  In separate bowl, whisk together egg, butter, and milk.  Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until moistened.

5)  On lightly-floured surface, pat dough into an 8" circle that is about 3/4" thick.

6)  Cut into 8 to 12 wedges and place on greased cookie sheet.

7)  Sprinkle the tops with cinnamon-sugar mixture.

8)  Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

I might not be back here before Thanksgiving, so I want to wish all my readers a lovely holiday.  May you be blessed.

Some Items I Made for the Show

I remembered this time!

Here are some photos of items I made for the show I was part of.

First, some little journals upcycled into a chic and shabby, vintage style.  I used old book pages to cover the booklet covers, then some ink and some pretty acrylic stamps I had, some pearl flat backs, and some lace ribbon. I made 33 of these, and I have to tell you, they are surprisingly labor-intensive.

Next is a photo showing 3 of the bookmarks I made.  These are of course intended to be used with actual books.  The ribbon goes inside the pages to be marked and the charms dangle out of each end.

I made two lengths, one for larger books, one for smaller.

And finally, a few of the rings I made.

I will be offering these and other items for sale either on Facebook, Etsy, or eBay starting this coming Saturday, November 19.  I will post an update on this blog then as to where you can go to purchase if you like.  I will also update my Facebook business page, which you can go to by clicking the button to it in the upper left.

Have a great evening.  I am off to finish cooking my cabbage soup.

TASTY TUESDAY AND A COMPLETED PROJECT FOR A GREAT FRIEND

Today's recipe is for a sweet fruity salad to go with your Thanksgiving holiday meal.

Cranberry Pecan Salad

Ingredients:

1 (6-ounce) package of cherry gelatin (or 2 (3-ounce) packages)

1 can whole cranberry sauce

1 pint sour cream

3/4 cup chopped pecans

Instructions:

1)  Dissolve gelatin in 1 and 1/4 cups boiling water.  When well mixed add cranberry sauce.

2)  Mix well and refrigerate until gelatin mixture begins to congeal.  Then add sour cream and pecans and mix well.

3)  Pour mixture into a casserole dish measuring about 7 x 11 inches.  

4)  Chill for several hours in refrigerator before serving.

And I know I said I would share photos of some art show items...

And I completely forgot.  I apologize for that, and right now my work table has active projects on it so I will share some photos tomorrow when I can get the table cleaned up and take some pictures. 

Instead, I am showing you a painting I made for a very good friend of mine, Saurabh, who is in the U.S. for a couple of weeks before he leaves for India again over the weekend.  We got together Sunday evening for an early supper, and it was wonderful to enjoy his company over a lovely Thai meal.  I painted a small canvas (about 5 x 12 inches) to celebrate friendship.  Right now the painting is in the U.S. mail system on its way to where Saurabh is staying at a hotel.   Here is a photo:

Wishing blessings to all of you.

Gotta Clean This Up

Good evening, everyone.  I am playing catch-up after sleeping late today since I stayed up most of the night to watch election coverage online.

Just wanted to share with you a photo of how my art desk looks when I have completed all the projects I want to make for a show and have not cleaned up the desk yet:

I need to get it cleaned up so I can take photos of items to list in my eBay store.  These are the times when I wish I had an art fairy to come out of the cabinet and clean up while I sleep.

Tasty Tuesday

Wow, what a week.  The show was on Saturday.  Over 3,000 people came through, and sales were better than they ever have been.  I was not sure what to expect with this being an election week and all.  I am a bit sore still from lugging around boxes of my creations and from being at the table all day.

I took my mom with me today as I went sourcing, gorgeous November day, no jacket required. 

Anyway, time to focus on the recipe.  I enjoy many kinds of Asian food, and I have been craving egg rolls, chow mein, beef and broccoli, and more types of Asian food lately.

So, to hopefully help satisfy the Asian food cravings, I am sharing a recipe for:

Fried Rice

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons Salad Oil

4 cups cold cooked rice

1 cup frozen green peas, thawed, rinsed, and drained of excess moisture.

1 cup shredded or diced cooked pork, beef, or shrimp

2 eggs, beaten

2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce

1/2 teaspoon sugar

salt to taste (optional)

6 green onions, including tops, thinly sliced or chopped

Instructions:

1)  Saute rice in oil over medium heat for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

2)  Add meat and peas to the rice.  

3)  Pour beaten eggs over rice mixture.

4)  Cook, stirring often, until egg is set.

5)  Mix Soy Sauce with the sugar and salt,

6)  Sprinkle onions and pour Soy Sauce over the top of the rice mixture.

7)  Stir until blended and then serve.

Tasty Tuesday, Sort-of

Yup, It's Tasty Tuesday, but since I am a little late, it might be Tasty Wednesday by the time I publish this.

It is late at night, and I have been busy making items for the craft show this coming Saturday.  Even though I am cutting back on the different types of products I am making this time, and I am trying to use only what I have available at home, I still find myself on the wrong end of the clock.

As far as recipes go, I have been thinking about the coming holidays and foods that can be enjoyed at a holiday feast or enjoyed as part of a regular evening's dinner side dish.  I dug through my box and found one, though I can't recall who gave it to me.  It is good, though.  And it is definitely not diet food.

Bacon Carrot Bake

Ingredients:

1 pound carrots, cut in half and then each half sliced in half lengthwise.  Carrots will need to be partially cooked.

6 slices of bacon, diced, cooked in skillet, and drained.

1 can condensed tomato soup (do not add water).

3 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 small onion, diced.

Instructions:

1)  Put sliced and partially-cooked carrots along with bacon in 1 and 1/2 quart casserole dish.

2)  Add soup, brown sugar, and diced onion.

3)  Stir until well mixed.

4)  Cover and bake 1 hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

5)  When done, let stand uncovered for 2 minutes before serving.

Serves 8.

That's it for now, everyone.  Thanks for stopping by,  I hope you enjoy this recipe or that it sparks creative cooking ideas for you.

It's Tasty Tuesday!

This is the first Tasty Tuesday on the new Abundant Empress blog.  I love food; I am a true foodie.  I love to try new recipes, and I love my old-standby recipe collection.  Cooking and enjoying food (especially with friends) is part of my concept of living an abundant life. 

My goal with Tasty Tuesday is to provide recipes and ideas that have some nutritional value, that are fairly easy to make, and that do not require a long list of ingredients.  I don't like making fussy meals, and I am not a gourmet by any means.  I like fixing tasty, simple, and hearty meals, so those are the types of recipes I will share here.

If I have a recipe or if I come across a recipe that I enjoy that is also a specifically "healthy" recipe, I will share it.  I generally try to cook dishes that are on the fairly healthy side, but I am NOT all about the sprouts, the kale, the gluten-free, the fat-free options (and humans need a certain amount of fat in their diet anyway).  

I also share recipes on my Facebook page (Abundant Empress, LLC on Facebook) every Thursday, so if you want more recipe options, you can check that out as well.

Of course, if you have ideas for altering recipes to your taste,by all means go ahead.  These recipes can be followed to the letter or you can play around with them according to your preference. 

Today's Recipe is Chili Beef Pasta

Ingredients:

3 cups uncooked rotini (spiral) pasta

1 pound of ground beef (or you can use ground turkey if you prefer)

1 can of spicy chili beans (such as Bush's or Kuner's)

1 can (about 14 or 15 ounces) diced peeled tomatoes (do not drain)

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions:

1)  Cook pasta according to package directions,  Drain.

2)  While pasta is cooking, brown ground beef or turkey in large sauce pan or Dutch oven (medium-high heat).  Drain.

3)  Add cooked pasta, beans, tomatoes, and chili powder.

4)  Cook and stir for about 3 minutes or until mixture is thoroughly heated.

5)  Top each serving with cheese while hot.

Serves 6

Additional topping options:

Small dollop of sour cream on each serving
chopped oniion
cooked bacon bits
broken-up corn chips

Enjoy!

Sharing a Couple of Recipes

Every Thursday I share recipes on my Abundant Empress Facebook page.  Today I shared two recipes, so I thought I would post them on my blog as well.   In the future, I will try to post a different recipe here on my blog every Tuesday.   The blog recipes will be different from the Facebook recipes.  But because today was a bonus day of two recipes, I wanted to post both of them here.  They are tasty. 

Hi Everyone! It was a golden day here in Minnesota, and the air is getting chilly. I love days like this because I feel energized to get a lot accomplished. And, let us not forget...

It's THursday -- Thyme to Share a Recipe!

I declare it a bonus day today, so I am going to share with you TWO super simple recipes: One is for a lovely spread that you can serve with crackers or veggies at a party (or a Friday movie night, curled up on the couch with your honey, your kids, or your pets, or all of them).

One is for a vegetable side dish that will add nutrition and flavor to many types of lunch or supper meals.

RECIPE 1:

BACON SMOKEY SPREAD

Ingredients:
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled into bits
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Sliced green onion (optional)

Instructions:
1) Combine cheddar cheese and cream cheese.

2) Mix until well blended.

3) Add remaining ingredients.. Mix well.

4) Top with a few crumbles of bacon if desired, also top with small slices of green onion if desired.

5) Chill for about 1 hour.

6) Serve with crusty bread rounds, crackers, or fresh-cut veggies.

RECIPE 2:

ITALIAN STYLE BROCCOLI

Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 pounds of broccoli, cut into flowerets
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh lemon will taste better than the jar lemon juice for this)

Instructions:
1) Steam broccoli in large skillet for 5 minutes until crispy-tender.

2) Remove broccoli from skillet, and drain.

3) Pour oil into skillet and add garlic.

4) Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until garlic is LIGHTLY golden -- do not let the garlic brown too much, or it will be bitter.

5) Add broccoli and lemon juice to skillet, Toss gently.

6) Cover skillet and cook for 1 additional minute.

Those are the two recipes for this week. Thanks for checking in.

Finding Abundance Right Outside Your Door

I tried a few times to write an article to go along with this entry, but writing about it is not really getting the point across.  Anxiety levels are running high for me this year (just part of anxiety disorder, which often operates on its own set of rules, often without actual cause).  One way I am helping myself to move past those anxious moments and bringing enjoyment into my life is by visiting a local park every day (alternating parks as I have several of them near me).  

Autumn is my favorite season. I love trees any time -- but most especially when the air is cool and there is a breeze to flutter the leaves, which are sounding a bit more crackly than they did in the summer.  Spending time enjoying my favorite season in the glory of the outdoors each day is a very abundant experience for me.  It brings me peace and helps me get over the anxious bumps in my day and keep moving on tasks when I return home rather than allowing myself to become bogged down and non-productive.  It's easy and free (except for the bit of gas used driving there)  It's been lovely, and I am grateful.

Sometimes a very minor activity that does not cost much if anything and is very easy to do can make a lot of difference in our perspective on life, can pour some abundance into our laps, can make us smile from the inside out.

Sharing some of the tree photos I took while at the park yesterday (yes, the sky deep above was that blue):

In my eBay Store...

Announcing discounts up to 25% on many items in my eBay store going on now and through the weekend.

My store features collectibles, home decor (mostly shabby, rustic, farmhouse, etc), dining and kitchen items, and some personal use items.

You can visit my store at this link:  http://stores.ebay.com/abundant-empress

To quote the old song by Neil Diamond, "Hello Again, Hello."

I am back to using Blogger for now.  My website was hacked, unfortunately, and I spent way too much time trying to decide if I should set up another website or if I should make use of my blog here again.  For now, I am going to be posting updates here.

My plan is to post photos of art projects I am working on, show progress, and to post recipes since I cannot seem to ignore my love of food and recipes.  I will also be letting you know of discounts / specials I run in my eBay and Etsy stores and unique / fun items I have listed.

I belong to a group of folks who love shopping at Dollar Tree and who have been recently making projects with craft items they have found at Dollar Tree, specifically, autumn wreaths.  I joined in the fun, and here is the wreath I made.  Mind you, I could not find my glue gun, so I had to use E-6000.  My fingers will be stuck together for the foreseeable future, and my home is a bit stinky from the adhesive even though I had the windows open.  I covered my home number with blue tape for the photo-taking. 

The wreath has a base of bent willow reeds and then is covered in various faux leaves, berries, flowers, and a little pumpkin item, all purchased at Dollar Tree.  The only part of this item I did not purchase at Dollar Tree was the glue.

So, I am glad to be back, and I look forward to a new start here on Blogger.  Thanks for visiting.

Here is my fall wreath: