Cindy deRosier: My Creative Life

I Finished My Fourth Quilt

2026-09-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

A year ago, I would have said that I could never make a quilt, not in a million years. I can't believe that I have finished my fourth quilt. Turns out you CAN teach an old dog new tricks! I'm learning so much with each quilt and my skills are improving dramatically. I'm getting a lot faster and so much more confident.

I'm really happy with how this quilt turned out. It's the first symmetric quilt I've made and the first where I've sewn adjacent stripes fabrics together (tricky!). The binding remains the most difficult part for me, but I'm improving.

Speaking of the binding, I'm not thrilled with the white. I would have loved to have bound it with the yellow or with another fabric from the quilt, but there wasn't nearly enough of any fabric to do that. Quilting exclusively with donated fabrics really limits things. On the other hand, it's a fun challenge to see if I can make something pretty using the small bits of pieces of fabrics that people give us.

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

2026-09-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Life in the deRosier household was good in early 2024. If you look through the scrapbook album, you see Trevor's admission to his top choice for college, a fun celebration for my 52nd birthday, our trip to Texas Hill Country, Brayden's adoption, the Highest Honors ceremony... and then a blank space, followed by all of Trevor's end-of-senior-year festivities and graduation.

The blank space represents my cancer diagnosis.

I thought for a long time about how I would include that in the album. I wanted a stark, black page that would represent how the diagnosis was abrupt and unexpected, out of place in our otherwise happy lives. This is what I came up with:

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (affiliate link)

It's not quite as stark as I'd originally planned. I used the title of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma instead of just CANCER. There's a lot of journaling. The pop of pink is for hope.

It's been two years and four months since my breast cancer surgery. I finished radiation just over two years ago. I graduated from in-person physical therapy 16 months ago. I have eight more years of endocrine therapy ahead and the lymphedema is still here; I'm not happy about either of those, but it is what it is. Overall, I'm doing well and at this point there is no evidence of disease (NED). I hope it stays that way and that I never have to make another layout like this one.

Ohio State Quarter Coloring Page (Redo)

2026-09-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I shared an improved version of my Missouri state quarter coloring page. When I colored the original, I didn't have the correct ink colors to do what I wanted. I updated it now that I have new supplies. I'm much happier with attempt #2.

Today, I'm sharing my improved version of the Ohio state quarter coloring page. In this case, I can't blame the materials - I simply made poor color choices the first time I colored it. I don't know what I was thinking. I used the same colored pencils for the redo and I like it so much better.

I'm not going to be redoing any more of these coloring pages, now that the two that bugged me the most are better. On to different crafts!

Missouri State Quarter Coloring Page (A Redo)

2026-09-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

It's been about 18 months since I finished coloring pages all 50 state quarters using different art materials. And for that whole time, I've been unhappy with the inks I used for the Missouri quarter. At the time, I didn't have better color choices, so I went with the ones I had, knowing they weren't what I wanted. I have some new ink colors now, so I gave them a test run by redoing Missouri's quarter. As before, I started with a base of ink, then added Prismacolor colored pencils on top.

In addition to using different inks, I changed the colors for the text and the border. I added some golden browns to the river since "The Big Muddy" is actually a yellowish-brown as it flows by Gateway Arch. It's not perfect, but I'm much happier with this version.

There's one more state quarter coloring page that has been bugging me. I'll share the redo tomorrow.

DIY Photo Scavenger Hunt - 75 Ideas

2026-09-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

I love photo scavenger hunts. It's such a fun way to look at a place differently. I always end up with unique photos I never would have thought to take. You can do photo scavenger hunts while camping, at Disneyland, for Halloween, during Christmas, or even just around the house.

I want to do a photo scavenger hunt on an upcoming trip, so I started by making myself a template, designed like a BINGO card. I put FREE CHOICE in the center; the remaining squares are blank. For now.

Next, I brainstormed a list of 75 attributes that work well for a photo scavenger hunt. Each can be taken at face value, but for some words there is room for interpretation. For example, #62 Wave could refer to something wave-shaped, an actual ocean wave, a flag moving in the wind, a person waving, or even something like amber waves of grain.

Finally, I used random.org to generate a numbers between 1 and 75.

Since #31 is Soft, I added it to the first square of my card. I repeated the process for the remaining 23 squares until my card was all filled in. If a duplicate came up, I generated a new random number.

I love that the prompts are truly random. If I had chosen the items to go in each square, I would have balanced the colors, shapes, patterns, etc. Instead, it's all over the place, which adds to the fun. I'm looking forward to using my new photo scavenger hunt card!

Visit All 50 States - Check!

2026-09-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

We completed our goal of visiting all 50 states on July 29, 2023. So it's about time that I document that accomplishment in the scrapbook!

Visit All 50 States - Check! (affiliate link)

For this layout, I combined the photo of us joining the Best for Last Club in Fargo, North Dakota with the graphic that I put on our one of the sets of matching t-shirts I made for the trip to North Dakota. I love how eye-catching the two images are together.

Dimensional Name Art

2026-09-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Check out my latest name art project! It's hard to tell in the scan, but the letters are popped up off the page. It's really cool, if I do say so myself. And it was really fun to make.

Here's a picture from the side that shows the dimension a little better:

Read on to make your own! Affiliate links below.

Dimensional Name Art

Materials:

paper
scissors
removable adhesive
acrylic paint
stencils, stamps, sponges, plastic fork, etc.
black foam adhesive

Steps:

Cut out the letters of your name...

... and then use removable / repositionable adhesive to attach them to the background paper.

Use a sponge to pounce paint onto the paper. Work up and down - avoid any sideways swiping that would disturb the letters or get paint underneath them.

Continue adding paint on top using stencils, stamps, a plastic fork, or anything else you have on hand. For my project, I used a hexagon stencil (purple), a circle stamp (blue), a small piece of sponge (orange), and the fork (grey). While you don't need to cover every tiny space, you want each letter to have different patterns and colors.

Let the paint dry, then carefully remove the letters. Fill in the spaces where the letters were with black paint.

Add foam adhesive to the back of each of the letters. When the black paint is dry, adhere each letter just a millimeter lower and to the right of where it was. This will allow a little bit of the black paint to show, making the letters pop.

I loved making this project and am excited to add it to my (large) collection of name art for kids!

Cherry Craft for Kids - Practicing Shadows and Highlights

2026-09-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

The United States is the second-largest producer of cherries in the world (Turkiye is #1). We grow two main types: sweet cherries and tart cherries. The top cherry-producing states for sweet cherries are Washington, California, and Oregon (in that order). Michigan dominates tart cherry production; Traverse City is called The Cherry Capital of the World and home to the National Cherry Festival. Interestingly, only one state has named the cherry as its state fruit and it's not any of those four. It's Utah, which is the only state in the top 5 producers of both sweet and tart cherries. Cherry proponents in Michigan have attempted to name the cherry their state fruit, but the powerful blueberry lobby has thwarted their efforts.

Today's project allows young creators to practice adding shadows and highlights to their artwork. It starts with a basic pair of cherries cut from cardstock and uses student-grade Crayola colored pencils. Affiliate links below.

Cherry Craft: Practicing Shadows and Highlights

Materials:

Steps:

Cut two cherries from red cardstock. Start with rounded shapes, then add a dimple on one side. Cut two skinny green stems and a green leaf. Finally, cut a tiny green square shape that connects the two stems. Glue everything to a piece of white cardstock.

Find a reference photo of cherries and look closely at the shadows and highlights on them. Cherries are quite reflective, so you'll see shiny white highlights on them. Notice the shadows as well. Drawing in a tiny circular motion, use a white colored pencil to add the highlights to your cherries. Then use a grey pencil to add shadows, using the same circular motion.

Don't forget the stems and the leaves! Draw veins on the leaf, then shade the lower half with grey and the upper half with white. Add a shadow to each stem. Finally, color the little rectangle brown.

It only takes a few minutes to add so much dimension to your project. For additional practice, you can choose another reference image with the light source coming from a different direction and repeat this activity. Or, switch to a coloring an apple. Like cherries, apples are glossy and provide great practice for highlights and shadows.

Candy Melts Crafts for Kids

2026-09-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

I love the versatility of Candy Melts (affiliate link). Not only can you use them on their own, but lots of different foods can become the base of a fun craft by adding Candy Melts. They're available in a wide variety of colors, which can in turn be mixed to make an infinite number of shades. I consider Candy Melts a staple when it comes to kids craft supplies. I've made dozens of crafts using Candy Melts over the years; below are some of my favorites.

Candy Melts Crafts for Kids

Pac-Man Marshmallow Treats - These retro treats are ridiculously easy to make and are perfect for an 80's themed party or for everyday fun.

Pretzel Raccoons - I'm really proud of these raccoons. They're so cute and I had a blast making them. Which version do you like best?

Edible Roses on Ice Cream - Celebrate Mother's Day or another special occasion with edible roses served on top of ice cream. They're so easy to make and you can match them to any color scheme.

Marshmallow Bunnies - I love these marshmallow bunnies! Each is slightly different, which gives them their own personality.

Pretzel Monarch Butterflies - These monarchs take some patience and decent fine motor control, but most teens should be able to be successful with this project. The effort is worth it - they're gorgeous (and delicious)!

Edible US Flag - This patriotic dessert is easy to make and features different flavors for each of the three colors.

Graham Cracker Owls - Make edible owl snacks that are packed with personality! Candy corn makes the perfect beaks.

Rice Krispie Treat Pig with Chocolate Mousse Mud - This pig is so cute and tastes delicious, especially the chocolate mousse mud. Click the link to see his adorable curly tail!

Candy Melts Campfire - Create a gorgeous campfire treat for a Scout event, camping trip, or outdoors-themed party. The combination of sweet and salty is delicious.

Pretzel Elephant on a Stick - What's more fun that dessert on a stick?! This elephant craft is fun to make and is a tasty treat.

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This is only a small number of the many Candy Melts crafts I've made. Visit my Edible Crafts page to see the rest, along with all of the other edible crafts I've done over the years.

Little Dipper Constellation Ornament

2026-08-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

There is only one state which has named an official state constellation. Do you know which state it is? Here's a hint. The constellation they selected is the Little Dipper, to honor their nickname as the North Star State. Read here to discover which state it is, then learn how to make an ornament inspired by this constellation. Affiliate links below.

Little Dipper Constellation Ornament

Materials:

Steps:

Mix a drop or two of paint with water to make a wash. Use a sponge to stain the wooden ornament. You should still be able to see the rings of the wood.

While the paint dries, draw the constellation on a piece of scratch paper, cut to fit onto the ornament. Select rhinestones for each star of the constellation. It's a nice touch to use larger rhinestones for the larger stars.

Set the rhinestones aside and turn your constellation upside down. Use the pencil scribble transfer technique to make a pattern on the wood ornament.

Trace the pencil lines with the white Posca. Add tiny white dots randomly on the ornament, then glue the rhinestones where they belong on the constellation. Tie a loop with the silver cord and your ornament is done.

While I made the Little Dipper because it's the state constellation of Minnesota, this project can easily be adapted to make any constellation. Try zodiac signs for especially nice ornaments; they make a wonderful gift.

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While researching constellations, I came across an absolutely fascinating blog post called Visualizing cities as constellations in the night sky. Check it out!

Published in Scrapbook & Cards Today

2026-08-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

It was a dream come true when my 2-page layout about my favorite and least favorite things was published in what turned out to be the final issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today. This is the layout I made to document it.

Published in Scrapbook & Cards Today (affiliate link)

I included a picture of the cover of the magazine, the page where my layout appears, and a notecard from the founder and publisher of Scrapbook & Cards Today. I'm happy with how the completed layout looks and am so glad to have it in the album.

Pipe Cleaner Lollipop

2026-08-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the lollipop (originally Lolly Pop) was invented in Connecticut? This beloved treat was first produced in 1908 by George Smith of the Bradley Smith Company of New Haven. Connecticut named the lollipop its official state candy in 2024. Celebrate this sweet treat with a quick and easy pipe cleaner craft. Affiliate links below.

Pipe Cleaner Lollipop

Materials:

Steps:

Stack the four pipe cleaners and begin to twist them together. You can twist them loosely at first and then go back and tighten them, or twist them tightly from the beginning. Either way, you want a tight twist.

When you've twisted the pipe cleaners together all the way to the end, begin coiling the twist. Keep the coil tight as you twist. It should hold on its own, but you can also add a drop of hot glue occasionally to keep it totally secure.

Use hot glue to attach the lollipop stick to the finished coil.

Quick and easy! Now go enjoy a lollipop in honor of George Smith, the Bradley Smith Company, and the great state of Connecticut.

Pop Art Hockey Craft

2026-08-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

I was looking through my Sports Crafts for Kids page recently. I have tutorials for 30 crafts representing 14 different sports. None of those is hockey, so it was time to add a hockey craft to the collection. I decided to do my twist on a popular project inspired by the pop art movement of the 50's to 70's. Affiliate links below.

Pop Art Hockey Craft

Materials:

Steps:

Carefully cut out the image of the hockey player. Layer three colors of cardstock together and use a binder clip to secure them together.

Turn the hockey player upside down and clip it to the cardstock. Trace around the shape, then cut out all three layers at once.

Arrange the cut images onto a piece of cardstock, with the hockey player in the foreground. Each piece should be evenly spaced and should be lined up with the direction that the athlete is moving. Glue everything in place.

Mini Keepsake Quilt #3

2026-08-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've finished my third mini keepsake quilt, using (most of) the fabric from Quilt #3. I love how the three mini quilts look hanging on the line together!

Since I give away all the quilts I make, these mini keepsakes are the best record I have of the fabrics I used for each. Unfortunately, there were absolutely no scraps of my favorite fabric from Quilt #3 (the leaf green) so I wasn't able to include it in the mini. It's disappointing, but it is what it is.

Not only are these mini quilts a fun keepsake, but they're good practice for me.... and I still need a LOT of sewing practice. I was exceptionally careful when I cut out my 2" squares and tried my best to maintain the 1/4" seam allowance as I sewed them together. The top looked pretty good - the corners (mostly) matched and the lines were (mostly) straight. After I sewed the completed front to the back and turned it inside out, the mini quilt was (mostly) square. (Well, rectangular.) But when I actually quilted it, things got distorted a bit. I didn't think I needed to pin the layers with such a small project, but apparently I do. I'll try that next time and see if it makes a difference. Always learning = always improving!

Where I've Been: National Monuments

2026-08-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

This is my third post in what's turning out to be a series about the National Park units I've visited. Read about the National Historical Parks and National Historic Sites I've explored, then check out the National Parks I've checked off the list. Today I'm focusing on National Monuments.

A National Park (NP) usually has a large amount of land (or water) and protects a variety of natural resources. A National Monument (NM) is typically smaller than an NP and less diverse, protecting at least one significant resource. A National Monument can be upgraded to a National Park, as happened with White Sands. There are currently 87 NM units in the National Park System. As before, I've added a star if I've been there. If I've visited since I started blogging about travel, I've added a link.

Where I've Been: National Monuments

African Burial Ground National Monument, New York

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Nebraska

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Texas

Aniakchak National Monument, Alaska

Aztec Ruins National Monument, New Mexico

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico

Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, District of Columbia

*Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, Alabama

Booker T. Washington National Monument, Virginia

Buck Island Reef National Monument, Virgin Islands

Cabrillo National Monument, California

Camp Nelson National Monument, Kentucky

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona

Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Alaska

Capulin Volcano National Monument, New Mexico

Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Pennsylvania

*Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Arizona

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Florida

Castle Clinton National Monument, New York

Castle Mountains National Monument, California

Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

César E. Chávez National Monument, California

Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, Ohio

Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona

Colorado National Monument, Colorado

*Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho

Devils Postpile National Monument, California

Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming

Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah

Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa

*El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico

El Morro National Monument, New Mexico

Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, Illinois and Mississippi

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado

Fort Frederica National Monument, Georgia

Fort Matanzas National Monument, Florida

*Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Maryland

Fort Monroe National Monument, Virginia

Fort Pulaski National Monument, Georgia

Fort Stanwix National Monument, New York

Fort Union National Monument, New Mexico

Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming

Frances Perkins National Monument, Maine

Freedom Riders National Monument, Alabama

George Washington Birthplace National Monument, Virginia

George Washington Carver National Monument, Missouri

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico

Governors Island National Monument, New York

Grand Portage National Monument, Minnesota

Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, Idaho

Hohokam Pima National Monument, Arizona

Hovenweep National Monument, Colorado and Utah

Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine

Lava Beds National Monument, California

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Montana

Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, Mississippi

Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument, Kentucky

*Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona

*Muir Woods National Monument, California

Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah

Navajo National Monument, Arizona

Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, Oregon

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona

*Petroglyph National Monument, New Mexico

Pipe Spring National Monument, Arizona

Pipestone National Monument, Minnesota

Poverty Point National Monument, Louisiana

Rainbow Bridge National Monument, Utah

Russell Cave National Monument, Alabama

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, New Mexico

Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska

Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument, Illinois

*Statue of Liberty National Monument, New Jersey and New York

Stonewall National Monument, New York

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Arizona

Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Utah

Tonto National Monument, Arizona

Tule Lake National Monument, California

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, Nevada

Tuzigoot National Monument, Arizona

Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, Virgin Islands

Waco Mammoth National Monument, Texas

Walnut Canyon National Monument, Arizona

Wupatki National Monument, Arizona

Yucca House National Monument, Colorado

To the best of my knowledge, I've been to 9 of the 87 National Monuments. That leaves a lot of places yet to visit! There are a handful that were already on my must-visit list, but I've added quite a few others while writing this post.

Four New Eagles

2026-08-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

On May 3, 2026 we attended an Eagle Court of Honor for four Scouts from our troop: Bryan, Spencer, Logan, and Brandon. All Eagle Courts of Honor are special, but this one was particularly meaningful for me. I was there when each boy joined our troop for the first time. I watched all four progress through all seven ranks and I sat on at least one Board of Review for each of them. I taught them skills as a merit badge counselor and camped with them. And, perhaps most significantly, Steve and I planned the 2021 COVID-replacement summer camp at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, which all four loved so much that they chose that location for their Eagle ceremony.

Four New Eagles (affiliate link)

As if this Court of Honor weren't already so meaningful, the new Eagles chose Trevor to be the Master of Ceremonies. Trevor was the Senior Patrol Leader when three of the four joined the troop, so from the beginning they saw him as a role model. Trevor is 2 years older than Bryan, Spencer, and Logan, and 3 years older than Brandon, so it's no surprise that they relied on him for guidance during their paths to Eagle. And it was a huge compliment that they selected him as MC.

The whole day was full of Proud Mom moments, but none so much as when Logan and Bryan each named Trevor as a mentor and awarded him a mentor pin. And then I had a Proud Wife moment, when Logan and Spencer each named Steve as a mentor! What a day. Huge congrats to Bryan, Spencer, Logan, and Brandon for their accomplishment. We're all so proud of you.

Girls' Trip to Disneyland 2025

2026-08-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

In November 2025, my mom, sister, niece, and I took a girls' trip to Disneyland. We spent four days in the parks. We rode all our favorite rides multiple times, but instead of racing from ride to ride like we might on a shorter visit, we took our time. We listened to live music, watched the shows, and took a close look at all of the holiday decorations. I got into pin trading, something Trevor had done when he was young. Mom, Kari, and I got matching holiday sweatshirts. Twelve-year old Allison thought that was cringe. Her loss. Kari introduced me to the concept of collectible popcorn buckets and bought lots of snacks for us to enjoy. One of the many highlights of the trip was taking the 70th Anniversary Holiday Tour, which was so much fun and a whole different way to experience Disneyland. It was a fantastic trip.

Girls' Trip to Disneyland, 2025 (affiliate link)

When choosing photos for my layout, my main priority was including photos of us. I was really glad that our tour guide offered to take a picture of the four of us together - it ended up being the only one we got. The other group shots are all trios. I mixed the people pictures with photos showing the holiday and 70th anniversary decorations. It rained one of the days we were there, so I made sure to include one of those pictures too. The people in the background are carrying umbrellas and wearing ponchos; we're standing in the rain enjoying Dole Whips. I'm so glad to have this layout in the album. It's full of happy memories.

Summer Creative Retreat: Pumpkin Embroidery on Watercolor

2026-08-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

The second project I completed during Summer Creative Retreat was this embroidered pumpkin.

I made it during a workshop called "Embroidery on Watercolor" which was taught by Jessica Mack of Brown Paper Bunny Studios.

As you can see on the graphic, Jessica taught us how to make different kinds of flowers. I went my own direction and made a pumpkin, which is the official state fruit of New Hampshire. She used a loop start to begin her embroidery, which is something I've never done before. I love taking classes, not only for the inspiration but for those little tips that I otherwise wouldn't have known. Affiliate links below.

Pumpkin Embroidery on Watercolor

Materials:

watercolor paper (300 series is best for embroidery)
watercolors
paper piercer
embroidery floss

Steps:

Cut your watercolor paper down to the desired size. Mine is 5" square. Add multiple bands of color to the paper. I used green, yellow, and orange and blended them a bit.

When the paint is dry, use a pencil to draw the design you want as lightly as possible. Poke holes along the pencil lines (always poking from the front) with the paper piercer. Then use embroidery floss to backstitch the design.

Then fill in the pumpkin and stem with watercolor.

This is a fun and easy project that can easily be adapted to practically any design. It's a great way to introduce kids to embroidery. Give it a try!

Summer Creative Retreat: Inspiration Treasure Hunt

2026-08-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Last year, I took six classes during The Pigeon Letters Summer Creative Retreat. (This one was my favorite. Or maybe this one.) Summer Creative Retreat is billed as the world's biggest free online art event, with 60 classes and over 20, 000 people attending. I really enjoyed it last year and was eager to participate again. Unfortunately, I didn't get home from Idaho until this year's Summer Creative Retreat was half over, and then I had to do all those annoying things like laundry, groceries, bills, and catching up with work that come after a trip. I did manage to watch four of the classes on replay before the event ended and I crafted along with two of them.

The first was Inspiration Treasure Hunt: A Playful Process for Creating Art, by Mel Rye.

Mel began by asking us to go on an Inspiration Treasure Hunt to find random objects on our workspace. We looked carefully at the items we found to discover shapes and textures. For example, a simple pencil has a round eraser that might inspire dots, a metal ferrule with vertical lines, and a wavy pattern where the pencil was sharpened.

We used the shapes we found to doodle the shapes they inspired onto plain paper. It was fascinating how many different patterns I was able to make using found items sitting on my desk. I did most of my doodles with a ballpoint pen, then switched to a Sharpie in order to get darker shapes for contrast. After creating a bunch of patterns, we cut those apart and arranged them on a colorful background. As you can see in the graphic above, Mel made abstract designs. I made fruit. The watermelon, pear, and apple each use three different patterns and the pineapple has two, so there are 11 different doodles represented below.

This was a really fun activity and a great way to stretch creatively. It's something you could do anywhere, since it uses so few materials. Such a fun class!

Fanci Freez

2026-08-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

When I was in Idaho for Banana Ball, Kari suggested lunch at Fanci Freez. Fanci Freez been around since 1947 and has won quite a few "Best of Boise" awards. I happily agreed. Everything on their menu looked pretty good, but when I travel I tend to order things you can't get anywhere else, particularly if they're significant to the area. I have never seen a Huckleberry Cheeseburger before and huckleberries are Idaho's state fruit, so that's what I ordered. Doesn't it look amazing?!

The Huckleberry Cheeseburger features a burger patty with fresh huckleberry spread, lettuce, onion, and blue cheese on a corn-dusted bun. I paired it with a huckleberry milkshake. When in Idaho, always get the huckleberry!

After we ordered our food, I intended to take pictures, read the plaques on the wall, etc. but I was immediately distracted by crayons and a stack of coloring pages. I sat down and started coloring. Our food was ready really quickly - usually a good thing, but I had barely made any progress coloring! I reluctantly set my coloring page aside. We ate our food and it was SO GOOD. I will definitely be requesting Fanci Freez and the Huckleberry Cheeseburger next time I visit.

Back at Kari's house, I finished coloring while the rest of the family played games.

I colored the whole page with the crayons at the restaurant and the Twistables that Kari had. Her tabletop is textured, so I got a cool effect coloring the title and background.

It turns out that this coloring page wasn't just something fun to entertain kids and craft bloggers waiting for their food; Fanci Freez is running a 79th anniversary coloring contest. I can't enter since my page is here with me in California and not turned in at their Meridian location, which is fine since I don't know that the contest is for 54-year olds.

I've added Fanci Freez to my list of restaurants you should definitely visit when you're in Idaho. No doubt I'll be back! And I'll be having the Huckleberry Cheeseburger every time.

Banana Ball in Boise

2026-08-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Trevor and I flew to Boise, Idaho two weeks ago to visit my mom and my sister's family. We chose the timeframe we did for a very special reason: we were there to attend a Banana Ball game. I've been wanting to go for years, so it was so exciting that it was finally going to happen. After we weren't chosen during the lottery for tickets for the game in Sacramento, my sister (Kari) and brother-in-law (Brian) worked hard to secure tickets for us in Boise. I am so grateful!

If you're not familiar with Banana Ball, it's a highly entertaining, fast-paced version of baseball with rules designed to maximize the action. The antics of Banana Ball lead to comparisons with the Harlem Globetrotters, although there are key differences. Banana Ball games are not scripted and all six teams within the league compete to win, whereas the Globetrotters always play the same opponent and (nearly) always win.

This was the first time that Banana Ball came to Idaho. The people of Boise, particularly at the host venue of Boise State, were really excited.

In the days before we flew, I was really nervous that the game was going to be canceled or postponed. Not only was the temperature in Boise topping 100°F, but the air quality was absolutely horrible, with numbers reaching well into the Hazardous level. Fortunately, the air quality improved significantly before the game. It was still smoky (and HOT) but not dangerously so. Hurray!

The game we saw featured the Party Animals vs the Texas Tailgaters. I decided to root for the Party Animals.

The Party Animals' mascot is named Pharty. He has quite a backstory.

Our group was seated in three different areas. Kari and I were together.

Here is Trevor with my mom. And Brian with Timothy and Allison.

We arrived in plenty of time for the pre-game festivities.

We weren't allowed to bring water into the stadium (100°+) and the lines to buy water were outrageous. Brian stood in line to get waters for all of us. He and Allison came by to deliver them.

While our seats were good for watching the game and the antics, they were pretty terrible for photography. All my pictures are through a net and into the sun. You can barely make out the Boise Bronco on the field toward the back.

During the pre-game (and throughout the game) there was so much going on. It was hard to know where to look. The guy in the blue morph suit was slowly making his way toward the pitcher while teams of dancers were performing and players were in the crowds giving away stuff.

The music is constant. Literally. Songs change every 10-30 seconds and there is no break between them. Songs play throughout the game, which is not a thing in standard baseball. There's always somebody dancing somewhere.

Because the Boise games were played at a football stadium and not a baseball stadium, there were some quirks that were a lot of fun. One example: there were no dugouts, so all the players were just right there.

To our left, a make-shift bullpen.

It was a HUGE relief when the sun finally dipped enough to be partially blocked by the stadium. It was so hot and it made a big difference not to be in direct sun.

The friends of Brian who were sitting with Kari and me left with 30 minutes on the clock to avoid the crush of 36,000 people. Timothy, Allison, and Brian took their seats.

Kari, Mom, Trevor, and I left with 15 minutes remaining so that we too could get ahead of the masses.

The Party Animals ended up winning the game 4-1. Yea!

Watching Banana Ball in person is a fantastic experience, but so is watching it on TV. I was really happy to see the game on YouTube. It was great fun to watch the things I saw from a better angle... and even more fun to see the things I completely missed!

I am so glad to have been to a Banana Ball game. I would happily go again, although ideally on a much cooler day and in real seats instead of bleachers. I'd especially like to see the original team, the Savannah Bananas, play. Huge thanks to Kari and Brian for everything they did for me to experience this bucket-list item!

I Finished My Third Quilt

2026-08-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

I finished my third quilt!

Like my first and second quilts, this quilt was made entirely with donated fabrics. The challenge of quilting with donated fabrics is that we rarely receive large pieces. I built this quilt around the yellow, red, and light green fabrics, but there was only enough fabric for sixteen 10" squares of those colors (4 yellow, 8 red, 4 green). Since the whole quilt needs 48 squares, I had to search through our stash to find enough coordinating colors for the other 2/3 of the quilt. I ended up using a total of 8 different fabrics, with as few as 2 squares of a color and as many as 10 squares of another. It was quite a challenge to arrange the blocks into a cohesive design with such random numbers of each color. I tried a bunch of designs before settling on this one, which has a sense of symmetry (without actually being symmetrical).

Sewing the quilt top took a fraction of the time as with my second quilt, which in turn took significantly less time than the first. Progress! I feel so much more confident sewing. Most of my corners actually match, which is a huge accomplishment for me. Binding the quilt also went much more smoothly.

As with my first two quilts, this quilt will go to someone in need via Lutheran World Relief. It is incredibly rewarding to make something that will provide some comfort and warmth to a person who is struggling through what is probably the most difficult time of their life. I love that I am part of this.

On to quilt #4!

The City I Most Want to Visit in Each State, Part 10: Virginia to Wyoming

2026-08-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

This is the tenth post in a series. I recommend reading the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth posts before this one. Today I'll be wrapping up this series by selecting the city in Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming that I most want to visit, then listing my top 2 attractions in each location.

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The City I Most Want to Visit in Each State, Part 10: Virginia to Wyoming

It should come as no surprise - the city I most want to visit in Virginia is the capital, Richmond. It's one of the five state capitals I haven't visited yet. There are a lot of things I want to see and do in Richmond, but my top priorities are the Virginia State Capitol and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.

Leavenworth is a Bavarian-inspired village in the Cascade Mountains of Washington and it is the city I'd most like to visit in the Evergreen State. It looks so charming and I'm a big fan of Bavarian food. The attractions I most want to see include the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum and Blackbird Island.

The city I'd most like to visit in West Virginia is Fayetteville. It's a very small town, with approximately 2800 people. The amount of infrastructure in such a small place is surprising, until you realize it's the gateway for our newest National Park. New River Gorge National Park is the primary place I'd like to visit. Since it's right there, I would enjoy a look at BSA's Summit Bechtel Reserve.

Green Bay is the city I most want to visit in Wisconsin. It the oldest city in the state and is famous for being the smallest American city to have a major professional sports team. Green Bay is known as the Toilet Paper Capital of the World (!) and is where "splinter-free" (!!) toilet paper was invented. Sadly, there is no toilet paper related attraction in town; worse, the World's Largest Toilet Paper Roll is gone. When I visit Green Bay, I would most like to visit the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and Museum.

The city I'd most like to visit in Wyoming is Jackson. Located in the scenic valley of Jackson Hole, Jackson is the primary entry point for Grand Teton National Park, which is the attraction I most want to visit. My second priority would be the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

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That wraps up the cities I most want to visit in each of the 50 states. This was such a fun project! It introduced me to some places I wasn't previously aware of and had me really studying maps, especially for the states where I've traveled extensively already. Not every one of the 50 places I chose is a must-visit for me, but quite a few of them are. I look forward to sharing them with you in the future!

The City I Most Want to Visit in Each State, Part 9: South Dakota to Vermont

2026-08-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

This is the ninth post in a series. I recommend reading the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth posts before this one. Today I'll be picking the city in South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Vermont that I most want to visit, then listing my top 2 attractions in each location.

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The City I Most Want to Visit in Each State, Part 9: South Dakota to Vermont

The city I most want to visit in South Dakota is the capital, Pierre. When we traveled to the Dakotas in 2023, I went back and forth about taking a 2 hour detour (each way) in order to visit Pierre. It would have meant cutting something else from the trip and there was nothing I was willing to cut. So we didn't make it to Pierre. When we do, I want to tour the South Dakota State Capitol and visit the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center.

Memphis should be on the list of cities we've visited, not the cities we want to visit. We had everything scheduled - flights, car rental, hotels, and tickets for all of the activities we were going to do Memphis. But it was not to be. Our two-week trip ended up being a zero-day trip. Three months later, we rescheduled a portion of that failed trip, but we had to cut out Memphis because Trevor's spring break wasn't as long as winter break when the trip should have happened. All that to say, Memphis is the city I most want to visit in Tennessee. When I go, I will be visiting all the major attractions, but the two I'm most excited about are the National Civil Rights Museum and the Memphis Rock and Soul Museum.

The city I most want to visit in Texas is Houston. One of my rules is that I can only pick cities I'd never visited, beyond the airport. In 2005, we flew into Houston, got on a bus a few steps outside the terminal, and rode to Galveston where we boarded a cruise ship. The process was reversed at the end of the trip. I'm not counting that as having been to Houston (although if I'd died stepping onto the bus, my death certificate would indicate that I had indeed been to Houston). I would like to actually experience something in Houston; specifically, I would most like to see Holocaust Museum Houston and the Eternal Gandhi Museum.

The city I'd most like to visit in Utah is Moab. Billed as the "ultimate basecamp for red rock adventures," Moab is a great city to visit even for the less adventurous who want to look at red rocks, not go mountain biking on them (raising my hand). Not only is Moab beautiful in its own right, but it is where to stay to visit Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.

The city I most want to visit in Vermont is Stowe. We were only about 10 miles from Stowe when we visited Waterbury so I know that it is a stunningly beautiful area. The top two things I want to do are the History Tour at von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort and visiting the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum.

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What do you think of my picks? Do any of these sound like places you'd like to visit? Let me know in the comments!

The City I Most Want to Visit in Each State, Part 8: Oklahoma to South Carolina

2026-08-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

This is the eighth post in a series. I recommend reading the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh posts before this one. Today I'll be picking the city in Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina that I most want to visit, then listing my top 2 attractions in each location.

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The City I Most Want to Visit in Each State, Part 8: Oklahoma to South Carolina

The city I most want to visit in Oklahoma is Tulsa. Tulsa is the former Oil Capital of the World, was home to Black Wall Street, and is the Capital of Route 66. The attractions I'd most like to visit in Tulsa are Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center and the National BMX Hall of Fame and Museum.

Boring, Oregon was named for a person with the last name of Boring; the city motto is "The most exciting place to live!" My favorite fun fact about Boring is that its sister city is Dull, Scotland and those two joined Bland, Australia to form "The Trinity of Tedium." One of my best friends from college (Hi, Erin!) grew up in Boring. When I eventually make it there, I'll be touring the Guide Dogs for the Blind campus. The other main attraction in town is the North American Bigfoot Center, which I don't really see myself visiting. Does posing in front of every Boring sign in town count? Because I'll definitely be doing that.

The city I most want to visit in Pennsylvania is Pittsburgh. There are a lot of things I want to see and do in Pittsburgh, but topping the list is everything having to do with Mr. Rogers. I'm most excited about the Heinz History Center. Another big priority is visiting the National Aviary. It looks amazing and, as a bonus, one of my friends from when Trevor was a baby recently became their Veterinary Department Coordinator. My favorite blogger lives there too, but I don't think I'd be able to meet her.

The city I most want to visit in Rhode Island is Woonsocket. Located on the Blackstone River, Woonsocket was a major site for textile mills during the Industrial Revolution. I would love to visit the Museum of Work and Culture, which focuses on the immigrants who came to Woonsocket to work at the mills. I would also like to see the Museum of Broadcast Technology.

The city I most want to visit in South Carolina is Charleston. It is one of the oldest cities in the US and is the oldest city in South Carolina. There are a lot of things to see. My top priority is Ft. Sumpter National Historic Park. I'd also plan to take the Old Town Trolley Tour, as their tours always provide a great overview.

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Have you been to any of these cities? Are there other places to visit that you'd recommend? Let me know in the comments!