Am I Losing My Touch?

In the last few years I went from baking my fool head off to hardly baking. Baking was once my hobby, but with us getting older, eating all I baked was not doing us any good. So, now I bake for special occasions. This time it was for dear friends wintering in Florida. I decided to make them chocolate chip cookies and my favorite, usually made only at Christmas, divinity. This delight isn't baked but cooked. For those of you who do not know about divinity it is basically sugar, lots of sugar. Anyway, since it's only made once a year, it in it's self is a challenge.

This morning after cookies, the pot went on the stove and sugar and corn syrup was put to heat. I know what you are thinking? Sure hope there is something good to put in with the sugar. No, not really. Anyway, this story would not be interesting without an incident. Everything was going great, thermometer read 260 degrees and off I went, beat the egg whites till they peaked, poured the hot corn syrup into the egg whites, and added the vanilla. All looked great. I continued to beat the beautiful mixture till the shine left the white sugar batter.

Then it happened, I tilted the beaters up. Yes, you heard me right, up. Right before my eyes in a matter of seconds batter was flying though the air. Covering my four legged friend, Timber and everything close. The thing I didn't tell you is that you have to act fast because this sugar delight becomes very dense and becomes a very solid mass. So one has to move fast. Unfortunately, I had to leave the mess while spooning the candy out of the bowl. I made it, candy came out great and no one will know the difference. Smile. So, Tom and Jim, this mess was for you.

Valentines Day

A new year and once again I have holidays to keep up with. It's like after Christmas and all the jubulation is over you think, time for a break. Not when you are into greeting card design. So, I decided to ask a question... what can't you get in the greeting card stores and would want to buy? I loved the answers people give me. It's not just a card to their sweethearts, many wanted cards to send to other friends and family just to say they are thinking of them. So this was my first try. I use a lot of elements to create such a unusual design. With embossing by hand, gems to glimmer and ribbon, these cards come out saying I am thinking of you. If you would like to see more of my creations go to: http://www.balsampondsdesign.etsy.com/ or http://www.balsamponds.artfire.com/

Why Balsam Ponds by Design

I wanted to start off right, whatever that means. My husband and I have always created wonderful homes. Very creative and interesting. But all of a sudden we stopped building and settled down. We designed and decorated. We were creative together and then he made all the designs possible. We worked so great together but after a while we wanted more, he wanted to play more golf and me..... what was I going to do?

It dawned on me. What I used to do, graphic design. But I was no longer in that business and it had been fifteen years ago. While we were sitting on the porch watching the bees hovering over flowers it came to me. We raised our glass of wine to my next journey. Something I had done for years for family and friends. Greeting cards, that was it. As always my next journey started once again in my garden with my husband and dog Timber.

My garden, Gods artwork, wow, I think this is where I will start.