The Birds Are Singing

 Happy new week all! Hope you had a great weekend. We had temps to 80 degrees F and of course I was in heaven:) Not only that, but our hummingbirds made their first appearance on May 1st- the earliest I have seen them here since I've been keeping track 5 or 6 years now. What a joy to watch them! I've also gotten the first of my annuals- geranium hanging baskets, and will get more for planting later this week.

 The above is a page in a junk journal. I used Tim Holtz Botanical Collage Tissue and Botanical Chip Board image.  I will join Art Journal Journey with the new theme for this month of Flowers.

 This birthday card is for the Simon Wednesday Challenge (anything goes):

a detail showing the glitter:

 Glittery patterned paper: TCWV; white note card and envelope (Recollections); stitched circle dies (Our Daily Bread Designs); birthday rubber stamp(Hero Arts); birthday clear stamps on envie (Inkadinkado); Stickles glitter glue; Versafine Onyx Black ink; Blue Breeze Kaleidacolor ink; paper flower (studio g); washi tape (Recollections).


 I have another yummy meal and recipe to share with the gang at T Stands For Tuesday:

 Poached salmon, and Smoky Chickpea Stew (recipe at end of post and also under my header under the "Recipes" title) over jasmine rice, and a glass of Merlot. My hubby liked this veggie stew so much we had it two days in a row! This would be good on its own of course but is extra yummy with some fish or grilled chicken on the side:) Cheers!

 There is a new theme at Tag Tuesday (haberdashery) and I had the perfect stamp images thanks to Valerie who gifted me with them!

 The tag was covered with pattern tissue. I stamped then fussy cut all the images from the stamp set and glued them down after stitching around the tag. I finished it with a black button. I will also share this with Try It On Tuesday for the theme of " Black, White, and One Other Color".

 And for Paint Party Friday I have another journal page -this one in the Dina Wakley Media Journal. Inspiration from her Daily Demos, and for the Year Of Gratitude monthly IG Challenge which for April was " I am grateful for community". The new theme will be announced Wednesday the 6th.

 It began on a kraft page in the journal, using a mask and black gesso:

Anyone remember these Tim Holtz masks? I bought them for next to nothing some years ago. I don't even know if Ranger still makes them or not.

 My completed page:

 Wishing you all a great week and weekend- happy Cinco de Mayo Tuesday if you celebrate it, and a happy Mother's Day on Sunday! Take care, and stay well.

" I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying who listens or what they think."   Rumi


Edited in: For whatever reason I am not able to leave a comment for anyone who uses  Wordpress for their blog:(:( I have tried from several different browsers to no avail. If anyone has any suggestions I'd SO appreciate it! Know that I am reading your blog posts - just cannot respond.


                            Smoky Chickpea Stew   (It Doesn't taste Like Chicken Blog)

1 Tbsp. olive oil         1 yellow onion, chopped     4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes          1 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika     1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. brown or white sugar       3/4 tsp. salt      2 cups of canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
about 4 cups of chopped kale or spinach ( I used spinach)
Cooked rice, quinoa, or couscous, for serving


Heat oil in a large pot or high-sided skillet. When hot, add the onion and garlic and sauté about 5 min until onion turns transluscent and begins to brown.

Stir in the tomatoes, smoked paprika, dried thyme, sugar and salt. Continue to cook, stirring often, for 10 - 15 min. until tomatoes have cooked and darkened in color.

Mix in the chickpeas and kale (or spinach) and cook another few min. til heated through and the greens wilt into the sauce. Serve hot over your grain of choice.