Hot and Spicy!

     Thinking about "spicy" for this week's Scribble Picnic theme makes me immediately think of hot peppers or chili. I didn't grow up eating much that was spicy, and subsequently don't cook with very many "hot" spices. (Ginger, cinnamon, cloves, etc. used in baking are another story!) According to an entry in Wikipedia, "Many spices have antimicrobial properties. This may explain why spices are more commonly used in warmer climates, which have more infectious diseases, ..." And perhaps that has just a bit to do with why my Louisiana born and raised daughter-in-law grew up loving her hot spices. Bless her heart, she has been known to tone down her use of them a little if she knows Benny and I will be joining them for a meal! :-)

     You can spice up your life a bit by visiting other contributions to the picnic here.

Yep, It's a Tablecloth

     Today's activities included hosting a few ladies for our monthly gathering of Friendship Club. It's a club that has been around since the 1930s, when my husband's grandmother was one of the original members. Many ladies have been part of it over the years, but there are very few of us in the group now. We always try to have a comforter or quilt made and ready to give in case we know of someone who has had a fire or something. Fortunately that doesn't happen too often. At our meetings we visit, send cards to people who are sick, plan occasional outings, play some simple games, and of course have something tasty to eat! This afternoon I served a Cinnamon Roll Cake that turned out quite tasty!

     At the end of the day I realized the Scribble Picnic deadline had arrived again, so I pulled out my trusty pencils and focused on trying to make a sketch that actually looked like a tablecloth. Went over the original pencil sketch with a water color pencil, then pulled out the Aquash water brush (thanks, Michael!) to see how that would change it. My mind didn't take me on any creative journeys, so it's just a tablecloth this time. You can go here to see how others covered the Tablecloth theme.

     Ah, I should have used a tablecloth for our Club lunch this afternoon. Maybe next time!

Cold... Hot!

After several weeks away, I'm hoping to get back into a posting routine here. Christmas was rather extended for us this season, with the immediate family not being able to gather until Jan. 7. We're just glad that everyone could be together then!

I know we were due for some COLD weather, which has definitely arrived, but I still don't like it. Brrr! Guess I'll have to keep busy using up the hot chocolate mixes I received as a gift. Yummm!

New year–fresh start. For those of you who participate in Scribble Picnic, I have visited and caught up with your blogs. But in the interest of doing that, I had to forego taking time to leave comments. Please know that I thoroughly enjoyed all the interesting activities, thoughts, and art projects that you shared over the past month or so!

Linking with Scribble Picnic. Fill your cup with more "hot chocolate" here.