My Christmas Cooking Class!

Menu:

Bread

Parker House Herb Loaves

Soup

Corn & Crab Bisque

Entree

Garlic Prime Rib

Sides

Country Bacon & Carrots

Potato Shiitake Gratin

Dessert

Christmas Lava Cakes

Beverages

Old Virginia Orange Wassail

Eggnog

Christmas nursing home visit!

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”- Matthew 25:40, NIV

Jennifer came over on Monday and brought all the items we were going to fill our bags with for the nursing home. We had put wash clothes, hand warmers and some snuggley socks in each bag for the elderly. We learned from our mistake last year, we had given them bags with pens, paper and Christmas cards. We noticed that a couple of them were trying to eat my Christmas cards! Our items in the bags were safer this year. Elsa joined in and helped stuff the bags with us. We stappled the toppers we had made with Megumi and Kumie to the top of the filled bags. They looked so cute! We must have put together over 120 bags. They gave them out today to the precious people at our Iwakuni community nursing home. One of our chaplains played the ukelele as they all sang Christmas songs! I heard they all had a wonderful time visiting again , holding hands and Connecting with our elderly Japanese friends. Last year it was an absolutely beautiful experience for me - quite possibly one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had in Japan. We visited two nursing homes last year. I sat, held hands, talked and looked into the eyes of every person I could. Some communicated with speaking some English but most didn't have to say a word. It was a squeeze of my hand, a tear from there eye, a lingering look, a hug that lasted longer than expected. It was a shared "feeling." I felt my entire body/heart just feel the presence/love of Christ - it was amazing. Far from being a “downer” experience, you come away with so much more than you came there with. It makes you want to continue to do all you can to help those that need it most in any way you can. I want to continue to show love to those who are in darkness, those who suffer, those who are lonely, etc.- just as Christ showed His love for me by bearing the sin of the world on the Cross. ><>

Elsa's Last Cooking Class-Theme "Autumn"

Menu:

Bread

Onion twist bread

Entree

Stuffed Flank Steak

Sides

Mixed Vegetables

Parsley Gnocchi

Dessert

Cheese Cake

Beverage

Ginger Punch

Santa Class!

Directions on making bows:

3" x 6" piece Double Sided Patterned Paper
Paper Cutter
Pop-Up Glue Dots
Adhesive
Brads
1/16" Circle Punch

Step By Step:

Step 1.Cut 8 strips of 1/2" x 3", 4 strips of 1/2" x 2 1/2", and 1 strip of 1/2" x 2". It's important to cut the 1/2" x 2" strip before cutting the 1/2" x 2 1/2" strips.

Step 2.Take 4 - 1/2" x 3" strips with pattern "A" face up and put adhesive on one end of each strip.Take the other 4 - 1/2" x 3" strips with pattern "B" face up and put adhesive on one end of each strip. Take the 4 - 1/2" x 2 1/2" strips with pattern "A" face up and put adhesive on one end of each strip. Take the 1/2" x 2" strip with pattern side "B" face up and put adhesive on one end.

Step 3. Wrap the 1/2" x 3" strips and the 1/2" x 2 1/2" strips.

Step 4. Wrap the 1/2" x 2" strip.

Step 5.Use the 1/16" circle punch to punch a whole at the bottom of each "cone".

Step 6.Use a brad and attach the "cone" together.

Step 7.Place a Pop-Dot in the center of each layer.

Step 8.Stack each layer by alternating patterns.

Your Turn!

Next class- Santa & Package Cards!

Our next class is Friday, December 7th. See you then!

"Christmas Wishes" Meander Book!

We made our "Christmas Wishes" meander books today! I was a little worried about the way the book is cut but everyone did it perfectly. The little book is made from ONE 12x12 piece of double sided patterned paper on the inside! The way it is cut and folded makes little pockets to put tags into. My books had the words Wish on one and Santa on the other. I wrote down some other ideas for words to put on the front and they liked them better. As you can see Noel was used and we had Peace on a couple. My book will be used for my families wish lists. I will put each member of my families picture on each page with all their "Christmas wishes" on the tags that are in the pockets. Try it!

Directions for Meander Book:

One 12" x 12" sheet of double sided patterned paper
Two 3 1/4" squares of patterned paper
Two 3 1/4" squares of cardboard
Cardstock to decorate and make tags
1 3/8 Circle punch for pockets
Paper cutter
Paper scoring tool

2-way glue pen

Pop-dots

Doublesided tape
Binding tool and spiral wire

Ribbon

Brads

small stapler
Stamps, Ink and Embellishments

Step-by-Step
Step 1
Score 12" x 12" paper at 3", 6" and 9".

Step 2
Turn paper 90 degrees and score again at 3", 6" and 9".

Step 3
Fold and unfold all score lines.

Step 4
Use scissors to cut paper as follows:

On the first vertical score at 3", cut from 3" all the way to 12".One the second vertical score at 6", cut from the bottom to 9".One the third score at 9", cut from 3" all the way to 12".Cut the first and last square off and discard.

Step 5
Start folding paper up from one of the sides with a missing square. Fold it up accordion style, stopping at the end of row.

Step 6
Tuck the accordian pages of the first row under the second row.

Step 7
Fold the second row accordion style like the first one.

Step 8
Tuck your accordion pages under the next row.

Step 9
Fold the third row accordion style.

Step 10
Fold pages under the last row.

Step 11
Now fold up the last row accordian style.

Step 12
For pocket pages, start by punching a half circle on the top of the middle page. Punch half circles on all pages to make pockets.

Step13

Punch holes in the side of the book pages for binding. I used a Carla Craft binding system punch.

Step 14

Add 2-way glue to the pages to make a pocket. Stay close to the edge with your glue. Glue pages together.You won't need glue on the side. It will be held together with the binding later.

Step 15

Stamp pages if needed.

Step 16

Tape 3 1/4" patterned paper to cardboard squares. Punch binding holes in the side of both of the covered cardboard squares.

Step 17
Stack front, back and pages the following way: Front cover face up, page pockets, back cover face down. Insert the spiral wire through the holes and bend ends.

Step 18
Cut tags for pockets. These were cut to 2 5/8" x 2 3/4" . Decorate the inside pages. Staple ribbon to top of pocket tags.

Step 19
Decorate front cover.

Step 20

Add ribbon ties to binding spiral wire.

Your Turn!

Directions to Envelope Book

ENVELOPE BOOK

Supplies:

• 12x12 package of Simply Scrapin “Secret Garden” kit.


• 12x12 inch Cardboard


• 7 -10 matching envelopes (my envelopes measured 6 5/16 x 4 7/16)


• Brads


• Wild Wasabi Ribbon


• Journal Pen


• Sticky Strip adhesive


• paper cutter or scissors


• bone folder


• Dimensionals


• Patterned paper

Cut your cardboard in half to measure 2- 6x12 pieces. Score both of the cardboard pieces at 55/8 and 63/8 to make the spines of your book. Bend at score lines.

Cut one sheet of 12x12 Always Artichoke textured card stock from the kit in half to measure 2-6x12 pieces. Tape card stock to cardboard bending card stock as you tape to cardboard. Repeat for second piece of cardboard and card stock. Lay both pieces on your table and overlap the pieces, place your envelope in the center and close the card stock around envelope to see where you will need to tape the cardboard pieces together. My book's center back measured 6 7/16. Use your sticky strip tape and tape together. Cut 2 pieces of patterned paper 5 9/16 x 6 for the inside 1st page and last page. Cut a piece of textured Groovy Guava card stock 6 3/8 x 6 for middle page. Cut a piece of Old Olive textured card stock to measure 12x5 for your inside 1st page journal. Score the old olive piece at 3 15/16 and again at 8. Fold on score lines.

(In the process of writing the directions...I will be taking step by step pictures also.)

My other Envelope book-

Donna, Uriah & Grace's visit!

Donna, Uriah and Grace came to stay with us for five days before Thanksgiving! We were all so excited to visit with them. I couldn't wait to see my friend and just sit and talk and have coffee together! The boys had a great time with Uriah and Tiffany with Grace. We are all looking forward to their return in December. These are some of the pictures I had taken at Asilomar beach while they were here. When the water was at low tide it left all the rocks exposed. On the rocks lived all sorts of diiferent sea creatures like the beautiful pink star fish above. The Aggragating anemones were the most fun for the kids! They were even brave enough to touch them. I thought it would sting us but it didn't. The top picture is when they are out of the water and the bottom picture is when they are under the water.

Grace was telling me how when you push on the anemoes they squirt water at you!

Thousands of muscles clustered on rocks.




Friends:o)AustinGraceThe sunset while we were there at Asilomar beach We had found this great little Japanese Sushi Restaurant called "Jugem." They had traditional and speciality sushi and sashimi! We were surprised to see they sold tempura, yakiniku and udon also. The boys have been missing their udon! I ordered the rainbow sushi and Donna had the salmon sushi. YUM!