We are on a roll !

In spite of the crazy week I have been having, My ETSY Shop has really taken off. Between the orders on the shop, and locally, We are on a roll! Can you say "TRAIL MIX". What started as a venture with my Twig Santa's and other Carvings, fast turned into a cooking gig. It started out as a shop to sell my crafts, and has become a showcase for my baked treats. What started it all was my Granola. They evolved into many different kinds. I started with Cranberry Pecan, and Lemon Blueberry Almond. Next came Cranberry Pecan with mixed Fruit. By this time I had a Lady asking me about Low Carb Granola, Of course I had to come up with something. I used a variation of my regular recipes but changed the sugar for Splenda. These became fast hits. This same wonderful Lady, talked me into doing Trail Mixes. One thing just lead to another, and now I am putting out several types of Regular Granola, Low Carb Granola and now I have two types Trail Mixes. Off of the Trail Mixes, I have created for the Holidays,Valentines/Mothers Day Blend, St. Patrick's Day Blend, and we are now up to the Easter Blend. This is simply Amazing! To see all my Treats, be sure to go visit Me at my Etsy Shop. http://lisadqueen.etsy.com My next project is to create for my friend Joanne, some dried mixed fruits. It will be interesting to see what kinds of fruits I can find to dry. I have already, Cranberries, Apples, Pineapple and Bananas. I will try to find some Papaya's and Guava's. That should give it some color. Well It is time to set the clocks forward. Good night, and sleep tight!

XOXO, LISA :>)

This has absolutely GOT to be the most rotten day yet !!!

I wonder if I knew how this day was going to turn out, would I have even bothered to get up?

I can't believe the day, week, or month I have been having. It started as a pretty normal friday for me. It seems I am taking someone every Friday to a doctor appointment. So again it was a appointment for Chuck. For those who don't know him, he is my better half. After 27 years of bliss,(yuk ! yuk !) We are still together. Most thought we'd never make it... Well on this auspicious morning we were headed to yet another dreaded appointment at the Portland, VAMC.(Veterans Hospital) This is the last place I like to spend my Fridays. If you have never been to the VA Hospital, live dangerously, take a trip on the wild side and visit one. Any how, we had only got about 1 mile down the road when I heard this loud "pop".

I asked Chuck what did you do? He just smiled and said "nothing". Well by the next 1/2 mile I noticed he was reclining pretty far back in his seat. It turns out the bolts on his wheel chair back popped off, and his seat back was coming off. Next he's lying in the rear of the van.

The chair, and Chuck from the waist down were still in the passenger seat. But Chuck from the waist up was in the back of the van???? go figure??? You have to realize Chuck standing is about 6'2.5" tall. So to me, that is what it looked like! It was the weirdest thing!!!

Needless to say, I got out of having to take him up to the VA Hospital. I had to call my Brother Kevin, and he sent his # 1 Maintenance Man, Ken to come and help me get Chuck back up. We ended up tying him up in his chair with a rope, to get him back home??? Tell me this was not a crazy, nightmare of a day???? I think I will go have a glass of Kahlua, and take a warm bath. Maybe when I get out, this day will have been nothing but a bad dream.

Cheers and goodnight!

Lisa

Easter is nearly on us !!!

Out with the old, and in with the new! It is TIME to unveil the new  Trail Mix for Easter. I wanted something delicious to go with my pastel theme. After much searching at the stores, I came across this juicy blend of Sweet and Sour Pastel Jelly Eggs. I used the base for my Ultimate Mix with lots of yummy Mixed Nuts, Red Hots, M & M's, White Chocolate, and my all time favorite, Cranberries. I think it looks scrumptious! I love the way it looks in the picture. What do you think? Good enough to eat?

Saying good bye to a great Guy!

I have neglected my blog for the past few weeks. It has been hard to feel like writing about much this past 2 weeks. On the 21st. of February, my Father in Law passed away. We were in the middle of Sunday dinner and my Mother in Law called us. I took the call in the other room, and then had to come back to the table and tell my husband. That was one of the hardest things I have had to do. My husband had just spoken to him the week before,so it seemed so surreal. My in laws are out in Michigan, and in the middle of all the terrible blizzards they were having out there. My mother in law is so level headed and practical, I had never heard that level of distress in her voice before. I wish so bad we could have been there with her.  Travel for Chuck is pretty impossible, But I will try to get out there in May. Saying good bye is so hard. Frank Feringa was a great man, and a wonderful Father in Law to me.

Today Chuck and I celebrated our 27Th. Anniversary! Heehaw! Where has the time gone???  It has been a real adventure! I hope the next 27 years go by a little slower! I want to enjoy the time more. Well I am about out of steam, will get back on track again soon.

Bye for now,

XOXO, Lisa

It's time for the GREEN !

Well, need I say more... It is one of my favorite time of the year!!! I love green beer! My husband's birthday is the day after, so it gives us an extra day to celebrate his special day too. In honor of St. Patrick, I created a special "St Paddy's" Blend of Trail Mix. Don't worry, I didn't add any Snakes to the mix. It is a luscious blend of Mixed Nuts,Red hots, White Chocolate,Cranberries, M&M'S, Sour Apple Rings, Fruitos, and Gummy Bears.  It is a take off of my "Ultimate Trail Mix" I sell on my Etsy site. I think it is pretty yummy.  The Red Hots and Cranberries give it a nice ZING!

I will only offer it till March 13, on my site, otherwise I can't guarantee it will ship in time. Well it is 8:30 P.M. So better go make my Popcorn!

Cheers :)

Check out the Craft show!

I just got back on Monday from a real great Craft Show. I was very happy with the sales this show generated!!! It was called the "Confluence" and was held in the old Town of Gardner, on the Oregon Coast. It was a Wine and Seafood Festival. There were lost of great Bands, yummy food, and some of the best wines that oregon has to offer. I had a great booth in the main Vendor room, alongside two women who had tons of Oregon/Oregon State items which drew the crowds to our section. This is a selection of photos I took. You can see my Granola's and Trail Mixes along with my Twig Santa's! The two sisters to my right had the cutes Nome's !!! They also had the college items, which were a magnet for people. On the right of them was the Couple selling delicious jam's with wine. We all enjoyed our two days together. I made lot's of new friends, and got lot's of helpful tips about other shows coming up. I thought I did quite well for my first real show. Mostly I just sell my items on my Etsy site. If you haven't check it out yet, it's lisadqueen.etsy.com  chek me out.  Well it's off to bed :)

It's that time of year again....

Well it is that time of year again...... The dreaded PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIK;'''''''''''''''''/;PLLLLLLLLLL roperty TaxKLLLLL (This is what you get with a cat who likes to walk across your Macbook!) As I was saying it is Property Tax time. I moan and complain just like everyone else, but it is worth every penny!  It has been six years since we found our home at the Beach. It has Morphed into a wonderful place. It started as a haven for Feral cats before we ran them all out. Now we have a place to come and relax and renew. Which brings up the name. This year I will finish the sign I started four years ago for the front porch. We call the house "Come and Renew".  From the minute you walk in the front door, you will understand what it is all about. A place to come to from the City to unwind, relax, enjoy friends and family. It is a Divine invitation every moment we spend there. I always leave refreshed. For the last six years my family and I have spent a good deal of time there. It has become the place to hang out every 4th. of July. We have finally completed most of the exhausting remodel, and now I need to just spend some time over there relaxing. I am showing some of the completed work which included a new bigger back deck, complete overhaul inside the house from top to bottom, a beautiful new bathroom upstairs. I can't remember how many windows we replaced, it seems like most of them though.