Welcome to Cyber....

I am working quickly on my backed up emails from the holiday weekend.

In the meantime, I am running a 50% off sale  Monday and Tuesday.

Thank you to those who prompted me this morning and asked if I would be having one! Woohoo! Love that.

Happy Shopping! PS Always click Special offers for you before Checking out! You never know what you might find.

Enjoy!

Chris

 

Happy Thanksgiving...

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your families and friends and the moments in life we share together.

Enjoy!
Chris

Moosh Alert. Happy Anniversary to my hubby

It’s my anniversary today. So this is a post of moosh and love for my hubby and our life. Also, I post all this moosh and love so when I print my blog out our lives and the big parts of it are chronicled for my kiddo if he should want them in the future.

 

I hope you have  a mahvelous moosh day J

 

 

I woke up 9 years ago today to my future hubby saying.” Just think… in 8 hours from now we’ll be married and you will be my wife.” He gave me that dazzling smile and a kiss. That’s right we woke up in the same house the morning of our wedding. Superstition believers and many well wishers said shame shame, but we did it anyway. We have been doing it our way from the start. Figuring out if and then how we fit together in life. We learned a lot of lessons along the way and they have held us together.

 

I was asked yesterday by a friend what is the one thing that holds us together the most… and I said Trust. I trust implicity in us, my hubby, our friendship, our faith, our beliefs. It all comes together in one package and no matter the ups downs or curveballs sent our way. I trust that together we can figure out and if I trust in that it will be the us that triumphs. I never am given reason to question it tho’ and we both work at it. Every day work. And it really isn’t work. I never assume he knows I love him.  Who is gonna show him for me. No one so it is just me to take on the task and I love it. Recently, hubby and I stopped for a moment outside the truck while kiddo was getting in and my hubby held for a moment or two longer then normal and gave me a big kiss and smiled down at me. His eyes just sparkle when I look up at him and we hear…. “OH MOOSH.. wow… Come on…. You guys… “ and then just giggles. Our 6 year old loves to harass us. One time he caught us dancing to the sound of the dishwasher in the kitchen and  we hear “Hey… I like you guys when you do that stuff”. Stuff as my son calls it. Stuff works for us.

 

I am really lucky to have found such a man that returns “the stuff” so freely as I give it. That pauses for a moment with me when someone who is 6 is late for a date with the toy section in Walmart. We love to laugh together and it just makes the world and it’s craziness so liveable.  Our little man has become the part of “us” as well. But we still take those stolen moments for the two of us when life is soooo busy.

 

I love my hubby and he is a big reason why I just Love my Life.

 

Happy Anniversary to my hubby. I look forward to the rest of our mornings as we live  it our way.

 

Enjoy!
Chris

 

 

 

 

Ginger.. Ingestible wet towelette for your tongue?

First, yes this is a picture of one shelf of my pantry. It says in most addiction programs admit you have a problem. So yes I am admitting I might have a canning problem. Of course might is the key word here because I have not heard any complaints or had an intervention, just weird looks, like I might have lost my mind. But usually if there is a possible onset of questioning my insanity, I just hand them a jar of homemade something and the bizarre looks become oh thank you. And then the conversation lull is over.  Well I took a picture because look how pretty the jars are in the reds with cranberries. Woohoo! I had to share.

 

I am in a rambling mood… so here goes.. 

 

It was a weekend filled with home. My son on Sunday said. I love Sundays. They are family day. He was sick this weekend so we spent the whole time home pretty much and even canceled some plans. But the upside is he went to bed tonight not coughing as much as the night before. And he should make it to school for the Thanksgiving feast.

 

So with time at home what did I do? I picked up my Bountiful Basket and canned. Woohoo! Of course. I tried to make it into my craft room to cut my new files for the qmc one more time, but it jus twasn’t happening. Kiddo needed some mom time.

 

So I canned cranberry apple relish, and cranberry chutney. I had everything in the basket needed with the exception of Ginger. The spice Ginger is not in my cupboard. (I always thought it was just that stuff on the sushi plate that is like an ingestible wet towelette for your tongue after eating sushi, but apparently not) So I had to run back to the store to get it. I also, got a new stockpot that is coated with ceramic. I love it. It is so pretty. I’d love to have a set of pretty pots and pans. Most I have are kinda mish mash, but I am gonna work my way through getting rid of the excess and replacing with better. The new one is deep so it will catch all the splashes of the cooking, but I can also cook a large batch of potatoes or perhaps apple pie filling for canning. We got a box of honeycrisp apples for apple pies this year. The guys are prepping to get the apple pies handled. Their tradition Thursday morning is baking pies, after pealing and eating a lot of brown sugar while preparing them.  However, those apples are calling my name. They would be soooo pretty in a jar. Wouldn’t they?

 

I gave the guys a taste of the cranberry apple relish and they both oohed and ahhed. Made me happy. They also both wondered through the kitchen looking for any extras or an open can, but I made 5 half pints without any to spare. Although I have enough ingredients for one more batch. So I might do that one night this week. They are just so pretty in the jar. But I have already hidden them in the cupboard to keep fingers off them.

 

Also, I wanted to use up more veggies from the basket because we got so much this time and I ran across a recipe for baked Italian sausage and veggies. So it wass soooo simple I tried. My hubby rated it delicious and one of the tops on his list of menu choices here at the Durnan house.

 

So here is how I did it in case you are short on time and want to try it.

 

1 package of Italian turkey sausage (sweet was what I had) cut up in fourths

5 red potatoes cut in chunks

1 large yellow onion cut in chunks

1 green and 1 red pepper cut in strips

Olive Oil

 

I tossed it with olive oil lightly (so it wasn’t greasy) and a little seasoning of the Italian persuasion and threw it in a 9x13 glass pan.

Baked it at 450 for 35 minutes.

 

Recipe then said you could top with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

 

My variation… it called for a red or yellow pepper.. I had one red and three green. So we went with xmas colors.  Oh and I am not good at measuring so it was kinda cut this up and throw it in and then bake it. I think it was 1lb of sausage, 1lb of potates, 1 large onion, 2 red or yellow papers, and 1 tblsp of olive oil in a bigger pan so it could be flatter. I don’t have a bigger one so went with what I had.

 

I could see if I had a bunch of friends over doing it ahead of time and throwing it in the oven in the evening before everyone got here. My son said it smelled really good cooking. BUTTTT. And that is a big But. He said he saw what was in the pan before he could smell it. So he opted for a muenster cheese and ham sandwich. He cannot stand peppers or onions and is not fond of sausage. So the recipe was a no go for him. I think really Muenster cheese was calling him. I have to limit his consumption of Muenster Cheese. He loves it. I bought a package one day a few months ago and now he begs for it at the store. Cracks me up. If I smile and give him the look of I am thinking about it but not 100% on board with getting it… he does the MUENSTER Dance in the aisle at the store waving the little package around. Haha. So yeah I might give him that look just to see him giggle.

 

Ever heard of something called OOBlech? Yeah I was leary and then we spent 20 minutes giggling over it. More on that tomorrow.

 

For now I am off to work on files.

 

Have a wonderful day and live everyday to its fullest.

Enjoy!

Chris

 

 

My Nala

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Recently I have had a few people ask me how my Nala is. Old roommates and their boyfriends or boyfriends of old rommates will ask me how my Nala is doing. She has this endearing way of working her way into people's hearts.

She is still kicking it. She is furry as ever and rules the house. She can't hear anything so she has decided to ignore us is the best way in her old age. I think we figured she is about 16 or 17 and she has traveled in planes, cars and boats in her day. She won't let me trim her hair for long without having a seizure. So I just cut the mattes out as I can and let her live as she needs to.

She is the only one of our four legged family who has full rule of the house at all times and she knows it. If you let anyone in she looks at you with disgust and walks away. She looks like she is resting on a bed in this picture. My Dad recently left and I need to put the mattress away that he slept on. As long as it was there she has decided it makes a perfect full size bed for her. Ha! Another thing about Nala. you do not leave anything clothes, towels, blankets on the floor or she will decide they are hers and she will organize them how she wants to sleep on.

Recently she has decided to be a little more peppy here and there so it is good to see her decide to wake up instead of sleep all day. I love her dearly and she has been with me through soooo many things. I have had her with me from the pound since she was 6 weeks old. She was dropped if in a brown paper bag in the middle of the night with a litter of siblings. She was the runt of the litter and the teeniest thing as they all climbed on eachother in the kennel.  She has a little no symbol tattoo on her belly from the pound when she waas fixed. Only dog I have ever seen with this little tattoo, but I don't look at to many bellys of dogs. (Accept that border collie outside who can't seem to flop down in front of you for a belly scratch. It's like a toll bridge every time you walk out the door. You must scratch before you pass.  )

Nala has dealt with other younger pups coming along, but she has never had to guess her place. no matter the deal I would have found a place for her with us. I worry she might lose her sight. We can deal with the hearing, but the sight will be alot more difficult where we live. But she does have her sense of smell. She smells food and she comes a running. If you drop a pinch, you need to tap the floor with your toe so she can feel the vibration.

When I lived alone, she spent lots of time watching tv with me, going to the park, listening to my secrets and trials of life when I was younger and needed an unjudging ear. She has enjoyed much love from roommates and friends and family.

Love her dearly I do. She silently habitates our home and helps my son to realize the tenderness you must have with an older animal. And the understanding as well. Because as soon as you walk through the door and she sees you.... you know she missed you and still loves you...

That is My Nala.

Enjoy!
Chris

Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on..... Enjoy!

And our cutter file "freebies" are kept in the forum. We add to them as we can.

the tradition of the tablecloths

Thanksgiving is coming and there are sooo many family traditions. Far and wide and each one unique in their own way. One of my favorites of my family is not about food really, but is at the dinner table. I must admit I am not a traditionalist on food. My hubby makes the apple pies every year with my son for the meal. He has his grandmother’s recipe and is in charge of it. He has altered it throughout the years so his wife can partake. They are a crustless pie so yum yum. Works for me. Who needs those extra calories anyways of the crust. To sit next to me at dinner you would realize why I am not a traditionalist when it comes to food. (I never bring the same thing. And always want to try a new recipe) My plate often holds just turkey and mashed potatoes maybe peas  if they are not coated in something or my Mom’s whipped yams or squash oh yum). I must skip the green bean casserole (I don’t think I have ever even had it) the sweet potato pie has crackers on top, the breads and rolls make me nauseous as I pass them around the table. I know many who get so excited about the feast. To sit down and just chow. Like permission to get so bloated you have to lay on the floor in hopes your stomach will better be able to push the food through somehow because you are chock full up to your throat. Because of stomach issues I can’t really eat large portion anyways. I have been known to eat a small meal and then two hours later eat it again. Yum. Yum. My food does get stuck in my throat and I really don’t want to pop stitches so my stomach migrates into my chest again. So for me. Life is good. It works. I like to watch folks faces as they taste something they have only had a year ago on Thanksgiving. Their eyes kinda sparkle and if they truly enjoy it and eat it not because it is there, but because they cherish the taste. Their eyes may close or they will pause in conversation.  Many traditions are steeped in meals and food. It is kind of cool. One of the few times we sit down and actually talk to each other and gather face to face in the world of texting and email. And usually over these huge meals many bring something to the table. Kinda like an offering of food to the family and the celebration. Just wonderful.

 

Our family tradition which means the most to me… We have tablecloths filled with sharpie marker notations of what folks are thankful for that have sat around the table. Every year you read one near your plate and add your own and date it. Some are from friends who have moved but shared a thanksgiving with us. Some are from those who have passed away like my gramps. Those are especially touching to the heart because we miss them at our table, but they always live in our heart and memories.

 

You almost have to pause when you realize your grandfather wrote I am thankful for my family and it is dated years before he passed away.  And that we still eat and are merry over the tablecloths where he sat with us.  It hits your heart not for the loss as much as the tradition of family. I do think he would proud of us for continuing on. Not that we wouldn’t because we are family. But because we do and he is still apart of that family.

 

I have never cooked a turkey? Did you know that? Wow. We always go to another family members house and the turkey has been in the oven there. For our son tradition is spending time in the car chatting on our way to the family feasts. We talk about some of the craziest things. And this is usually the time when I bring my list of numbers and we start dialing family afar and wishing them a wonderful day and letting them know we thought of them. Our travel across the miles to be with family. Is filled with chatter with family in usually much colder places.  Also, in our families, we celebrate one day with my “By Love family” and then on Friday with my family. So we don’t have to cram food down and leave for another.  This has come about recently in the last few years because lives change and family structures change and can I say it has prolonged the event for us. And I love it.  I love to not have the rush. I love the time to truly immerse yourself in each family. It is wonderful. Traditions and plans do change and emerge. I love that.

 

Also, in both of our family sides… everyone is welcome.. if you know anyone who needs a seat to sit at a table. Who hasn’t a meal to eat. Everyone is welcome.  This to me is one of the most phenomenal traditions. It is wonderful. It really speaks of the holiday of giving and being thankful. Sharing food with others. Sharing food with loved ones. And just being together…

 

Well did you get the impression I wanted to ramble today? I guess I have been thinking about life a lot and reflecting lately. I really love my life even with those days when you just want to scream! And there are many around us who are not in the same place of living happy and I wish I could give it to all. But I can’t. It is just a part of life and living. Everyone has to do it differently.

 

I hope you don’t mind my ramble… and I highly recommend you buy a few light colored table clothes this year. Grab a bunch of sharpie markers. And start that tradition. When you miss someone so dearly over the holidays and look down to see the writing of what they were thankful for. You will realize they are always with you in some form and that is a blessing.

 

I really would love to know your traditions if you are reading this ….. I love them all. Every family has something unique. And now I am off to look at recipes… because you know when it comes to food. I can’t go with tradition. I have to try something new!

 

Have a wonderful day!

Enjoy!

Chris

ahh... off he goes...

Hey folks my Dad has flown back to the “cold tundra” as he calls it  of Wisconsin and I am trying to catch up on emails for the last few days. I was a bit lax as I was trying to spend as much time with him as possible. If you feel like I have missed you. Please feel free to email me. Or I will keep working away at my stack of emails to respond to.

 

Thank you to everyone for your patience. Especially during this time of the year when we get to spend so much time busy with family and tradition.

 

Enjoy!

Chris

Happy Tingles... or Goosebumps..

.. From the forum…

“Hi, my name is Sharon and I just came across the store a couple of days ago and spent quite a bit of time in there admiring all the talent and designs of the designers. I ended up buying 4 files and have about another 768 in my wish list...LOL.
Afterwards, I was very delighted and extremely pleased when, not only did I get a welcome email from Chris, but also an email from each of the persons I bought files from. One designer even went out of her way to assist me with a file (me being somewhat new to cutting files, she walked me through the process). It is very refreshing to see that sort of "customer service" from anyone, let alone the internet where things seem more impersonal anyway.
So just wanted to thank you, Chris, Kristal and Lisa, for already being so wonderful and welcoming. VDBC has a customer for life!!! And I can't wait to get into some more files and start creating thanks to all you designers' talents and inspiration. And even though I am more a lurker than a poster, I look forward to some great relationships here.”

*************

The above was posted by Sharon in the forum the other day. Just gave me the happy tingles!. It made me pause and refocused my thought that everyone at our site should be involved in quality digital files for crafting. The need for all the designers to participate in the store is so important. Who better knows the designs then the designer who took the time to test cut it and work with it.  There isn’t a better person to answer any questions and build those relationships. Thank you to Sharon for taking the time to visit our store and also post in the forum about your experience! It really made my day and the “more” teams to see such a positive and glowing review!!

We are very thankful for all of our customers. I am going to take Sharon’s lead and make sure to let those I do business with know how much I appreciate their service.

Also… did you know? A lot of our designers send out bonuses (coupons, freebies, offers etc) directly to those who have purchased from them during the month. Woohoo! Could it get better.

Thank you again Sharon for just helping me take a moment … to happy tingle… Have a wonderful day!

Enjoy!

Chris.

PS Added note after I sent I thought really... I am so proud of my "More Team" ladies! Just phenomenal! They go out of their way all the time for our members. Just the best!

New Uploads to the QMC

These are the files I have uploaded to the forum for the current QMC yesterday. Trying to get all the holiday files together so everyone has time to make items and then work on some other non holiday topics from the request thread.

 

I am working on uploading to 4shared. Seems to be giving me fits today. So I hope to have that done by the end of the day.

 

Hope there is something you can use and if you haven’t joined yet. More info…

Enjoy!
Chris

Halllloweeeeeen...

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So because I cannnnnot find the picture of me in a Cyndi Lauper outfit from High school for our Virtual Halloween Costume Contest in the Forum. Here I am as a CSI team member with my policeman son.

Still looking through old pictures tho'. I will be posting it. I have decided I need to scan these pics in as well. So I am sure I will be posting more.

This is my kiddo a couple years ago. Another Halloween we missed because he had bronchitis.

And this is this year. Thank you to my friend Lori! She is the bomb. I asked her for a shirt that was in the "correct attire" for an army guy and my son got a care package filled with a little boys heart delight. Embroidered with his name on many of the pieces. With a treat bag and everything. He was super happy. This picture above is from after trick or treating .. hence the bug eyes...

Okay and Cutey Kitty is so adorable. She is fun to chat with after school and I know she watches out for my kiddo at school. She always has something new to report. My son said "she is gonna be a great mom" one time when she was at our house and had just gone home. Cute!

 and Happy Baby (as you may remember from our lake trip)

And this is our very good friend Heidi and her kiddos. super Cuteys!

And this is... well happy baby.. he grinned the whole night and when the treaters came to the door. He would say HI! and they would say Hi back and he would sign language please and point at their goodie bags. haha. I don't think it worked with the treaters, but it did with his Grandpa. Sneaking treats all night. cute cute.

I didn't get a picture of Happy Baby's brother. he is very hard to track down. So fun to chat with (he usually tells me right off the bat... I haven't seen you in a longgggg time and gives me the look of.. You should do something about that) , but hard to get standing still. haha

And this is Heidi with a new family addition. There were quite a few babies being passed around. Heidi and I found this humorous with the hand over the face.

Our Mario! checking out his loot.

And this is my son. We liked his shadow. My kiddo is growing up quick. this year I said I wasn't buying a costume and I didn't and he was happier then ever with his outfit. Thank you again Lori and Andrew!!

That's it for now... Enjoy!

Chris

Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on..... Enjoy!

And our cutter file "freebies" are kept in the forum. We add to them as we can.