Sunday, September 21, 2014

Mandala Monday and T that isn't tea again this week

Hello and happy T Day! I'm sharing a favorite drink of ours for family parties. It goes way back to when I was growing up and my Nana would make it. Nothing fancy here but it goes with our holiday meals nicely, thought you might like to try it. We use a pitcher and fill it with half ginger ale and half with fruit punch, looks pretty in glasses too. Let me know if you've tried it before? To see other yummy drinks and/or cups visit us at Elizabeth's where we get together every Tuesday to share what's new and in our cups. Come by and say hello, it's always fun!
 
Today I have some fun art to share with you, YAY!! Happy mail came in this week and I love them.
My fall ATC swap came in, so excited about this one since fall is my favorite time of year. I love each single one of these so much. Some of these were from ladies I've never traded with before, YAY! We still have 4 of them being mailed from overseas but she sent these ahead for now so we don't have to wait any longer. Click on the image to see better if you need.
here is a surprise happy mail I got this week. It's a way to use up your scraps, LOVE that idea, right!! You use the big packing kind of tape and put your scraps on it, then another one on top and trim it up to fit. You can make it this size or go smaller. As you can see she used two stamps on this one, it was a bit bigger then she planned. There is a playing card you put in the middle and paint over the one side and write the address on it. Isn't it cool, now for the other side:
Here is the other side, NO SCRAP LEFT BEHIND, love that! She wrote her message and name for me on that little scrap on the right side. I was so surprised and happy to see this, so fun! I'm going to try this once I get some tape. Have anyone of you tried this before? She sent out a few of these surprises and they each looked amazing.
I made another mandala this week too, YAY! These were just from my own yard this week. Loving all the purple ones that are growing in my ditch right now. I found some fall leaves on a walk yesterday and hope to make one for next week. Thankful still that Dawn inspired me to make these.
 
Hope everyone has had a good week. The weather actually got hot for a couple days and now rain and wind are here. The kids have had and still getting over bad colds/coughing. Can't believe how fast September is going either, trying to soak up each day we can before the nasty winter gets here.
 
Thank you so much for the sweet comments last week on my mandala and the zentanbles I received. I still love looking at them! So nice getting these little bits of happy mail from all over.
Take care and thank you so much for your visit!

14 comments:

  1. Yes, we have made that same punch for years. It is really a good ole stand-by for us.

    What a novel idea for a post card!

    Beautiful mandala too.

    Weather here is still on the hot side, but the nights are starting to cool off, we can turn the AC off at night and still sleep! CA is so dry, and we need the snow pack, in the mountains really bad this year. Rain would be a nice change too........for us!

    Have a great week Dawn!

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  2. I think I had that fruit punch at a party once. I've never made it, though. It looks interesting, and I bet it would look great in wine glasses (for those of us who are non-drinkers).

    Your mandala is gorgeous, and you got some lovely ATCs in your swap. Wow, your hostess really treated you well.

    It's still quite warm here. Nights in the mid 60s, days in the mid to upper 80s. I'm hoping for a bit cooler weather soon. I prefer nights about that same temp, but days in the mid 70s. Hope your days warm soon.

    Thanks for sharing your drink, ATCs, and mandala with us for T this week. And thanks for your lovely compliments on my abstract art pieces.

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  3. Sounds yummie this fruit punch --- we drink a lot of her in our region ... with fresh fruit of the season.
    Gorgeous Mandala - and fab ATC's!
    Happy T-Day for you!

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  4. Well, I've never heard of that punch, I'm thinking it hasn't crossed the pond..I must try something like that. Aren't your ATCs wonderfu, can see why you're so happy with them. Am holding off on acknowledging Autumn...it's been too fab a summer to let it go!

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  5. I've never heard of that punch, but we do have ginger ale and we have mixed fruit juices, so I guess it wold be about the same. I may try it ;)
    Your ATC's are gorgeous :D
    I have a question about the 'scrap' piece. DId go through the mail like that? Just packing tape and scraps? I'm amazed! Thanks for sharing :o)
    Happy T Day :o))

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  6. We always add sherbet to that ginger ale/fruit juice punch. From the comments it sounds like that punch is a popular item :)

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  7. I've had a similar punch that we would add sherbet to also.

    It is always fun to get happy mail, and both of these are so creative. Swaps are fun--it's is amazing to see all the variety and how everyone interprets the theme if there is one.

    I like today's mandala!

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  8. oh my goodness, the atc's are gorgeous so now I need to get busy and make some! ;) yes, the ginger ale with fruit punch is quite tasty, but we don't make it much any more because several in my family are diabetic. We served it more often when the kids were little, or for things like showers, etc. The Scraps & tape piece is brilliant- I must try it! and wonderful colorful mandala!

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  9. These Fall ATC's are awesome Dawn. I have never tried mixing both the drinks. Thank you for sharing it here. Will give it a try. Even here my kids have cold. School started and cold too has started spreading.
    Pretty mandala. What is that purple flower?
    Have a lovely week my friend
    Susan

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  10. Love love love happy mail!!! I'am one of those people that never had Hawaiian Punch or Koolaide in the house...never gave it to my kids etc... lol But i think anything with gingerale tastes good so this probably does too.. :) Happy T day! Hugs! deb

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  11. Fall is my favorite season, too. You really did get a ton of happy mail. What fun! Enjoy your week. Happy T-Day! :)

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  12. Lovely mandala :) I quite often do ginger ale and cranberry juice, so refreshing. The ATC's look great :)
    Happy T day!

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  13. I just love fall, too, Dawn! We did have some hot days last week just like you! I love the cooler weather, though.

    Your mandala is absolutely beautiful, and I always love that you use real flowers or something from nature. It's LOVELY!

    And we have had the exact same drink here at our house. We have even tried adding lemonade, orange juice, etc, lime, but the straight kind(1/2 and 1/2) is still the favorite around here!

    Oh my gosh - The Middle was wonderful last night. The kids are all growing up so quickly. We really noticed how much Brick is growing! I loved that Sue was spotlighted! YAY for Sue Heck!

    Take care, my friend, and as always, thank you so much for your wonderful visit to my blog! Your kind words really made my day! Hugs to you!!

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  14. Happy for happy mails YAY! And my favorite season is fall too, I think everywhere is beautiful when it is fall, ha, and my chinese name means Autumn too!
    Lovely creation as always!

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