Learn Something New Everyday

While that's a great motto for life, it's also the name of the class I'm taking.  On a lark, I decided to do Shimelle's class Learn Something New Everyday and, of course, signed up after the class had begun.  I mean why shouldn't I make it the most challenging it possibly can be?  After all it only has a daily lesson when I already know that this month will be busy and, then, to make it better, start out behind!  Yep, that's the best way to go.. well, not really.

I've been thinking about it for a while, but the whole idea of taking a class is a little daunting.  I mean I still wake up in the middle of a night in cold sweat thinking I've got to take a final in the morning and I never opened the book or attended a class the entire term, and I've been done with school for... well, quite a while now.  I don't really want to think about how long it's been because that just makes me feel old.

But I just adore Shimelle.  I get so giddy when a new Glitter Girl video is available and her blog had encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and try new products and techniques, so the idea of a class of hers was just enough to make me take the leap (plus it was pretty inexpensive and I get to come back year after year...).

[Pardon my little break.  Chewie just came into the craft room and declared it necessary that I immediately clean the litter box so she could use it.  I thought the benefit of not having kids was that I wouldn't have these interruptions to take someone to the bathroom, but apparently our cat thinks I need to have that experience in my life.  Sheesh... at least with a kid, there would come some time at which the child would be able to take him or herself to the bathroom alone.  But, Chewie is now five and still thinks I should take her to the litter box and clean it before she will use it - even if no one else has used it!]

So today I caught up on yesterday's lesson and did today's lesson too.  Although there's not much room left for embellishment because *shocker* I'm a little verbose.  But I did get to use my new My Mind's Eye washi tape in the Indie Chic collection and my date Smash stamp from K&Company.

Now I just need to think about what I'm going to do to cover my journal.  I selected this one because
I just love the little books that Vickie sent me after her trip here that have these great little pockets (meant for business cards, but handy for holding tickets, receipts, etc.) and I find myself using the post-it notes everywhere (marking recipes to try in the newest Cooking Light, masking a stamp for a layered stamping design, etc.).

The only drawback is that I'm not not hugely fond of the company's logo on the book with my "classwork."  But now that I'm thinking about it, it makes me think of subway art and I think that needs to be my cover...  Aahhh, the feel of inspiration!

 

But that may be for another day because, I'm tired after canning apples all day and it was only two buckets full!  Here's a shot of my first attempt at making apple butter.  I still feel sticky after stirring this for so long...

 

The first items in the canner were these beautiful apple ring jars the hubby put together after I sliced the apples on the mandolin.  I am still singing the praises of his cutting glove.  I can't tell you how many apples I sliced on that thing, but I can tell you I didn't get cut a single time even when I was pushing the apples through with my hand!

 Here are the cooling cans of apple rings (front left), chunky applesauce (front right) and smooth applesauce (back).

 But that's not all, here are all the cute little jars of apple butter...

Lots of work, but hubby and I make a good team so it's lots of fun too, especially when it's all done and I get to sit here listening to the jars making their lovely popping sound in the background while I listen to the hockey game (it's only pre-season but I'm so excited anyway) and watch NASCAR in the background in case something interesting happens.