Susan

Welcome to my new blog website! My name is Susan. I have been blogging since 2007. On Raisin Toast I share family life, our new journey in retirement in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the building of our last and smaller home, my artwork, quilting, stories, and more. I hope you will enjoy what I have created here! Welcome! Don’t forget to Subscribe to my Newsletter!

Painting in Oils

Painting in Oils & Pastels

Studio

Validation is an Artist’s Greatest Gift

Susan February 24, 2023
As an artist, the finest reward is when a collector sends an email, a card, or a message, that clearly shows how much they love a painting they have purchased or commissioned. I especially love when that collector sends a photo of where the painting…

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Home & Garden

New Home Build

Staking Out Our New Build

Susan February 16, 2023
It feels good knowing that we are officially on our way to breaking ground on our new home! Today, Brandon was on site with Bob staking out the location of our new home. Based on its orientation on the property, the back of the house…

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Flooring

Front Porch

Home & Garden

Mud Room & Laundry

New Home Build

What Flooring Makes You Want to Kick Off Your Shoes?

Susan February 13, 2023
Being completely honest, old wood floors with imperfections make me happy. I love a floor that creaks. In Matthews, NC, there is a hardware store on Main Street, Renfros Hardware, that I love to visit if for no other reason than to walk on their…

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Big Bear Bob

Faith

Front Porch

Home & Garden

New Home Build

New Home Exterior Color Choices

Susan January 20, 2023
Choices. So many choices to make when building a home. And our new home build is all about those choices. Bottom line, it comes down to cost and good taste. This week we decided on colors for the exterior of our home and stone for…

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Home & Garden

New Home Build

Can’t Wait to Blow This Pop Stand!

Susan January 6, 2023
We’ve lived in this apartment since May of last year, and it is sad that it has taken this long to get the ball rolling and start building our new home. That day can’t come soon enough. Apartments are far too expensive, cheaply built, have…

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Faith

A Bright Light Has Come to Earth

Susan December 26, 2022
By: John Pototschnik. Something most profound, utterly amazing and beyond imagination has occurred. Not many witnessed it, only a few shepherds in the fields watching over their sheep during the night; but the event would change the world and man’s relationship to God forever. The…

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Family

Friends

My Opus

A Moment of Christmas Reflection

Susan December 22, 2022
To All my Friends: A moment of reflection. Over the 13 years or so I’ve been on Facebook, I’ve connected with dear childhood friends and high school friends, friends made throughout my life, and family who live in other States. I’ve even found family that…

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Faith

Friends

My Opus

Alone this Christmas? Some Ideas to Bring a Smile

Susan December 21, 2022
Being alone on Christmas has to be horrible for many. I can’t imagine how lonely it must feel on this day each year if you are alone. So, I’ve come up with a Movie Marathon List to hopefully pull you out of the Christmas blues,…

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Faith

Family

My Opus

A Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours

Susan December 19, 2022
Here we are bringing another year to a close, it all goes by so fast. But here we are, thinking about 2023 and what the new year might bring – and hopeful that interest rates, gas prices, living expenses, and grocery costs will hopefully come…

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Susan

Validation is an Artist’s Greatest Gift

Staking Out Our New Build

What Flooring Makes You Want to Kick Off Your Shoes?

New Home Exterior Color Choices

Can’t Wait to Blow This Pop Stand!

A Bright Light Has Come to Earth

A Moment of Christmas Reflection

Alone this Christmas? Some Ideas to Bring a Smile

A Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours

Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

The Lion and the Lamb

Cleaning Those Dirty Pastels - Safely

Cozy Kitchens

Back in the Saddle

About Raisin Toast

Meet Our Contributors

About Susan

Latest posts

What Flooring Makes You Want to Kick Off Your Shoes?

Thanksgiving Table Runner Day 7 - Finish

Anticipation

Whose House Are You Building?

A Quilt for Kim - The Finished Quilt

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