COVID-19 Plan: When You Miss Family

I was really missing family the other night. Sure, we text. But I really miss the face to face interaction over a cup of coffee or a good meal.

I did the next best thing. I poured a glass of wine and called a sister. And it was great to spend time catching up, commiserating, and laughing.

I'm going to send some cards this week. And this one says it all!

I just love these interactive cards from Concord and 9th! Easy peasy.

{Today's Brew: Type Talk stamps and dies (Concord and 9th), Woodgrain background stamp (Concord and 9th), coffee cup from Concord and 9th coffee turnabout stamps, COPIC markers, PTI ink and card stock}

Hey, friends! I finally got an Instagram account. You can find me either under Mary Rose Kulczak or maryrosescafe. I would love to have you follow me there!

Blessings, cafe friends!

COVID-19 Plan: Plant the Pansies!

We had to go to the home improvement store last week to buy some packing supplies. I saw the happiest sight while I was there. Pansies!

Don't you love their happy, sunny faces?

I will get some this week and plant them in my front porch urns. I need all the happy I can find!

In the meantime, I made a paper pansy yesterday!

I got this set, called Pretty Petals (Concord and 9th) from one of the buy/sell FB forums. So glad I did! This set is retired now, but I can see so many uses for a nice big flower.

{Today's Brew: Pretty Petals (Concord and 9th), sentiment from Hello Sunshine turnabout ( Concord and 9th), HUGS die from Mail Drop dies (Concord and 9th), Distress Oxide inks, PTI card stock, SU sequins, amuse rhinestones}

Martin Luther once said "Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."

That is hope, cafe friends!

Hugs to you. God is good!

COVID-19 Plan B: Virtual Stamp Camp

I am sad, really really sad. This was supposed to be Stamp Camp weekend with my craft friends. The ladies had been planning for months. They found a beautiful new retreat center in historic Marshall, Michigan. Beautiful! Brand new houses made just for crafters, with tables and OTT lites and die cutting machines at the ready. And did I mention that each floor had its own Keurig coffee station? It was going to be AWESOME!

Of course, those plans had to be canceled in the wake of the Coronavirus and social distancing. The owner has transferred our payments to next fall, which is very generous and sweet of her.

A lot of us are now having our virtual stamp camps from home, hunkering down in our craft rooms and making cards. It's not nearly as much fun as when we do it together. But still, we need the cards, so it's good to have this distraction.

I made this fun interactive card with Concord and 9th's Mail Drop stamps and dies. Open the mailbox door, and you can see the message!

Fun!

{Today's Brew: Concord and 9th Mail Drop stamps and dies, Lawn Fawn grassy border die, Taylored Exprerssions sunshine embossing folder, PTI card stock}

I will be sending a lot of paper hugs this week!

Did you make it to virtual church today? We have a video to watch as a family later, complete with hymns and prayers.

Blessings on your Sunday, cafe friends!

COVID-19 Plan: Bake Bread (and Buns)

How is the stock in your local grocery stores? I have found that certain items seem to be adequately stocked, like fresh fruits and vegetables, while other items are hit or miss. Meat, dairy, bread.

In our area, it was the evening when the schools made their closure announcement that seemed to start it all. We were in the baking aisle and the flour was nearly gone. That's when I knew it was going to be time to get some supplies in my pantry for baking bread. Over the course of a week or two, I added various flours (self-rising, all purpose, white whole wheat) and yeast, along with some oils to have on hand.

This week, I decided to make my own hamburger buns with a recipe I found on Pinterest. It seemed pretty basic. Yeast, sugar, salt, butter, egg, flour. I followed the directions and set the dough aside to rise for an hour.

My dough took a bit longer to double in size, probably because I had the windows open on a nice spring day to let the house air out. I let it sit on a heating pad for a few minutes, and that seemed to help.

The dough was very sticky, however, and I had to flour my hands and the dough surface frequently just to manipulate it into shape.

After making twelve buns, I brushed them with an egg wash and sprinkled sesame seeds on top.

To begin with, the recipe instructs you to add a pan of water to the bottom rack of the oven, and then preheat to 400. This does a nice job of adding steam to the oven as the buns bake.

And after 15-20 minutes, they are golden and fluffy!

The next time I make these, I will shape them into eight buns instead of twelve. When we buy frozen patties, they come in an eight pack. And these buns  were on the smallish size, so I think the recipe will work better for eight.

The verdict? Yummy! I served the boys and I burgers with a side of orzo spinach salad. Delicious!

The next day, I used the leftover buns to make egg sandwiches for breakfast.

I plan on trying some sandwich bread recipes soon, too. Bread is such a simple pleasure, isn't it? Normally, I don't eat a lot of bread because I avoid the carbs. But in times like this, I find that it is necessary to loosen up a bit and take comfort where it can be found.

Here is a link to the recipe:

https://www.thebakerupstairs.com/2017/02/homemade-hamburger-buns.html

Blessings, cafe friends!

COVID-19 Plan: Stay Connected

It is so important to stay connected to friends and family during these strange and difficult days. Cards, text messages, telephone calls. Even talking to neighbors on the sidewalk...from a safe distance.

Yesterday, I was able to meet with the sweet ladies from our church bible study, thanks to Zoom. It was so heart-warming to see their smiling faces again! When we used the gallery mode feature on Zoom, I told them we looked like a combination of the Brady Bunch intro and Hollywood Squares! LOL! We shared our struggles and prayer concerns, and worked on a lesson that seemed so appropriate for the days we currently find ourselves in.

One verse really spoke to us: "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12

A much needed reminder.

Blessings, cafe friends!

COVID-19 Plan: Stitching

Okay, cafe friends. How are you all holding up under this pandemic? Are you working from home? Under self-quarantine? Under a state-mandated Shelter in Place order?

Do you have plenty of food...and toilet paper? Are you getting outdoors and walking whenever possible?

Here in Michigan, we are now in Stay in Place mode, and school closures have extended until April 13 (but many of us are doubtful that school will resume for the duration of the 2019-2020 year). My husband and adult sons now have special "essential" travel status for their work, which allows them to continue doing what needs to be done.

Me? I am perfectly content working from home! I do a little writing, a little crafting, a lot of cooking, a little house cleaning. It's business as usual for me.

I began a new stitching project this week. I love to stitch while listening to sermons and podcasts and hymns. It's such a nice, meditative practice. Some people feel that way about knitting or crochet, too.

I purchased this kit from Designer's Desk in Geneva, Illinois. At the time, I was living in nearby Batavia and the shop was going out of business, as the owner had decided to retire. Over the course of many weeks, the bargains just kept getting better and better, and I think I bought the entire contents of the store. LOL! It just felt like it at the time. But seriously, I have enough kits and patterns to keep me occupied for many years to come.

That reminds me. We were packing up our loved one's apartment this weekend, and had to stop at Aldi to pick up boxes. Every box said "BATAVIA, IL" on it, as that is the U.S. headquarters for Aldi. I told my husband how thankful I was that we were not living in Batavia during this crazy time in our lives, but back home in Michigan, close to our families and better able to care for them and for each other. It will be three years this June since we made the decision to move, and looking back, we can see the wisdom of that decision every day.

I love the name of this pattern from Shepherd's Bush. Fear Not. I don't know about you, but I need that message right about now. As the world seems so uncertain and the job market is so volatile, I have to remember this.

1 John 4:18 says "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear."

There is only one who loves perfectly, and that is Jesus. I don't need to be afraid when I put my trust in him.

Blessings, cafe friends!

COVID-19 Plan: Watercolor

Remember all of those watercolor pins you've been pinning?

This is a great time to give them a try!

I love the look of the little watercolor "Polaroids", so I thought I'd try it today.

I used some washi tape to make a square and then began my little landscape.

And if you are impatient, like me, you can pull out your heat gun and make the drying process faster.

And when you are happy with the composition, take off the washi and voila!

A little dream of spring. And I really need to believe that spring is coming soon when I wake up to this:

Waah!

That's okay. It's all gone now. I hear warmer temps are coming this week.

Stay healthy, cafe friends!

COVID-19 Plan: Make Cards, and Send Them!

I have a little story to share.

You remember last January, when I mentioned that a loved one was in the hospital? Well, since that time, we have moved our loved one from a rehab center to an assisted living care facility. It has been a challenging time for our family, but God has been so faithful every step of the way. Our loved one is well cared for now, and though she is on lock down and we cannot physically visit her, we now have the ability to video chat with her. She seems happy and content with the situation. What a relief!

In the meantime, my husband and I are packing up her former apartment, cleaning out, and getting ready to put everything in storage by the end of the month. Our hope is that one day, when COVID 19 precautions are lifted, we can have a spring estate sale.

We've been sending her cards in the mail, as have her friends and family. And I know she loves receiving them and looking at them. As a matter of fact, she had SO many cards in her apartment that she'd saved over the years, including all the cards I'd made (what a trip down memory lane that was!).

But here's the thing.

We found DOZENS (maybe more than a hundred) of greeting cards that she had purchased over the years and meant to mail but never did. Cards for my husband, cards for her grandchildren, cards for friends. She had good intentions, but terrible follow through.

I have to remind myself frequently to not just make the card, but mail the card, too!

Let's make an effort during these trying times to reach out to our friends and family in new ways. And maybe, as an extra precaution, don't lick the envelope flap to close it. Just sayin'.

I think I may need to make a LOT of Easter cards this year, when I consider that I may not see my church family in addition to my parents and siblings and nieces and nephews.

Today's card is just a fun card. Concord and 9th is making some fun interactive cards and dies. I steer clear of the really complicated ones, but this one was pretty simple. And if you can make one, why not two?

{Today's Brew: Concord and 9th Mail Drop stamps and dies, C and 9th woven plaid background, PTI card stock, Distress Oxide ink, COPIC markers}

One of my new favorite purchases: Stick It Adhesive Sheets! They work great for intricate die cuts like the scripty Hello!

We are heading out today to do more apartment packing. I think a trip to a big box home improvement store is in our future. Wish us luck!

Laughs and Love

Here it is. Our chalkboard scripture verse for the week.

Sometimes, a good laugh can put it all in perspective!

I am really proud of our little community and our neighborhood. We are organizing I Spy walks for kids, where residents post certain pictures in their windows on certain days, and the kids have to find them like a scavenger hunt. Isn't that sweet?

We have also begun to collect rolls of toilet paper at certain drop off houses, that will then be distributed at our social services office for those in need. It's a small thing to do, but it helps. Through Facebook and Nextdoor.com, we are reaching out and helping each other in ways big and small... collecting snack foods and easy meals for the kids who are home from school and no longer receiving school lunches, checking on our elderly, sending cards to the local nursing homes. So many ways to help brighten someone's day.

Last night, the local internet went down around 5 o'clock. Aaack! What to do! No television, no YouTube, no Facebook, no news feeds. We were practically Amish! LOL! Sam played the piano and his ukulele, I read a good book and started a stitching project, and Ed played with the dog while trying to get status updates.

Isn't it a wonderful time to have hobbies?

Blessings on your weekend, cafe friends!

Peace and Stitching

I had no idea when I started this project at the beginning of February that I would need this message of peace so desperately. I finished the stitching this week, but need to complete the project. Hoping to do that tomorrow.

It is almost surreal how the events unfold day by day, isn't it?

We are hunkering down for the time, working from home. In some ways, it feels like an extended snow day. I cook, I bake, we play board games.

Yesterday, I ventured to the small local grocery store, but not before checking with my elderly neighbors and church family to see if they needed any supplies. During uncertain times like these, it is a wonderful chance to serve our neighbors and share the love of Christ.

I have no shortage of things to distract me. It helps to turn off the news and stop checking the constant feeds on my ipad.

I find that walks in the sunshine are a good antidote to anxiety. And if you can wear a jaunty scarf and bring a smile to your neighbors, that's a blessing, too.

I have a lot of fun things that I plan on doing during this time of self-imposed isolation and social distancing. Many of these will be things that you can try at home, too. Make sure to stop back to the cafe!

In the meantime, pray and pray some more. Pray for our world leaders, for health care professionals, for our governors and schools, for our doctors and nurses and medical personnel, for the sick and the lonely.

Peace, cafe friends!

Thirty! And A Card To Celebrate!

My eldest turns thirty today.

Thirty!

For a while now, I've been telling people about Luke turning thirty and saying "But I don't know how that's possible, because I'm only 35 myself!" Actually, I am those numbers reversed. But in my head, 35 was not that long ago.

I needed a special card for this special occasion!

Recently, I got the stamp and die set "Notable Numbers" from Concord and 9th. Sometimes, an occasion calls for big numbers! A birthday, an anniversary, an addition to a family, a retirement. And these numbers were so pretty and extra fancy that I couldn't pass them up.

{Today's Brew: Concord and 9th Notable Numbers stamps and dies, C and 9th Balloons and dies, PTI inks/card stock/paper, SU silver metallic thread}

I know we are all supposed to be "social distancing" right now. (Don't you love how we invent words and terms in the English language at warp speed now?) And trust me, other than a crazy trip to the grocery store on Thursday evening, we are keeping to ourselves as much as possible.

But when your son turns 30 and you have the chance to celebrate that with him, you take it.

We were in Luke's end of town last night, so we took him to a local/not busy Mexican restaurant for dinner. We may have casually mentioned that it was his birthday. And yes, with that young face he still gets carded whenever he orders a beer. But when the crew came out with sombrero and song, we were all surprised! I think it made Luke's night! Good times!

A Corona, because...well, you get it.

Happy Birthday, our Luke! May the dear Lord bless you!

Something and Someone Beautiful

When things in the world try to steal our peace, it is good to look for something beautiful. The bright red male cardinal at my bird feeder. The sun shining through the skylights. A steaming hot latte.

I needed to make something beautiful today. And it just so happens that I got a delivery of this turnabout stamp and die set from Concord and 9th called Flower Patch!

{Today's Brew: Flower Patch stamps and dies (C and 9th), Distress Oxide inks, rose gold metallic thread (SU)}

My beautiful sister, Tina, had a birthday yesterday. I'm not sure when we will get to properly celebrate it with her. Hopefully soon! I love you, Tina! In the meantime, I may have to send this one in the mail.

I've been listening to some beautiful hymns lately, too. If you have Spotify, look up Nathan Drake or Reawaken Hymns. Acoustic arrangements of the classics. Lovely!

www.reawakenhymns.com

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  Philippians 4:8

Peace to you, cafe friends!