Can you guess?

What I have planned for my next project? Here’s two pictures…what do you think?

 

I’ll keep sharing pictures until it’s done.

Check this out….

Wilbur loves “his” kids and when they are playing he’s cuddling their babies for them. This is Rachel’s Austin, he’s been with her since the beginning. I can’t see Abby’s froggie but he’s there somewhere too along with the girls blankets. Lovey’s are such great things.

I think Jim and Mike are talking about heading to Roger’s (near the Twin Cities) to go to Cabela’s. They have a wonderful breakfast buffet but it means a 1.5 hour trip before breakfast. I’m not looking for to much, Mike does need a new pair of winter cover-alls and I sure would like a pair of snow pants instead of my snowsuit, but we’ll just see if they have any good deals, just all depends.

I wish you all a very blessed New Year. Thank you for being such a big part of my life. God Bless you all.

See the “Fat no more… I hope…”?

That is my new blog for my hope to be a new me. I am going to start working very hard on a new life style with eating good, exercising, praying more and doing the best I can do have a healthy body.

Please join me on my quest. If you have any insight, ideas, comments or anything like that please do so. I need them. I’m almost 50 years old (well got 2.5 years left) but I want to get in shape and just see what that’s like.

Check out my new blog by clicking on The going to be new me link…

I hope you all have a great day today. It’s sunshiny and 7* this morning so not a bad morning at all. I’m hoping we can go out and play a bit plus the kids said they’d help me clean house for the New Year. I love help, close counts here so I have no problems with things almost perfect.

God Bless you all and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

You just have too….

Go read Traci blog, you have to take the time to do it. You will not regret it, it is very spiritual and uplifting and very eye opening. It made me want to add a very important New Years Resolution….. to read my bible, each and every day. Not just my devotion but to read a part of the bible every day.

Thank you Traci for sharing your mama, life and thoughts. I hope your post brings more people to realize we need the bible to grow.

Check it out people, you won’t want to miss it….I promise.

Good night my friends, God Bless each and everyone of you!

New Years resolutions……

I don’t normally make them. I’m not to good at keep them but this year I’ve picked two that are a challenge but either need to be done or I want to do. So here they are…….

1. Make a new recipe every week. Can be anything from baking, to cooking, to crock-pots, to drinks. Just something we’ve never tried before. I get two magazines from my mama with good recipes in them and just think of all the ones out there in web-land. I can do this…just takes planning….planning, hummmm….I better work on that one too.

2. I will fold and put away the socks and underwear each time I do the laundry instead of waiting for the basket to be full and everyone is out of them. It’s really a dumb issue, what’s so hard about doing them each time…I don’t have a clue but it’s something I need to get a handle on and just get them done.

You know….have you ever decided today is laundry day and just know there’s clothes in the dryer from the last laundry day but you just didn’t get them out and so you go to open the dryer door and you find it empty…you did do them? It’s like Christmas…a present to yourself. I love that and get so excited. Doesn’t take much to get me excited does it?!

I have one more but it’s not a resolution and I’m not quite ready to share it yet. Got some work to do on it and then we’ll see. It’s a very scary one for me and I will need each and everyone of you to help me with it.

So there, those are mine…..you got any you want to share? I’d love to listen and see.

I have a houseful today, all my kids are here so it’ll be a nice day for them and since it’s suppose to warm up we can go outside, that is unless Hannah’s ears are bothering her. Both her and her brother are back on antibiotics for ear infections. This is Hannah’s third go around and Justin’s second.

Up date on my sister….. She home, no she shouldn’t be but the hospital says times up, they were suppose to send her to a nursing home for wound care and 14 days of antibiotic IV but one nursing home said closed due to the flu, one said we don’t do wound care and the other was full so they sent her home. Home is not where she needs to be, she still so sick, weak and unable to care for herself. She does have a nurse that’s suppose to come in every other day to do the antibiotic stuff and check her wound but there’s so much more she needs. I’m hoping her family can take the reins and do what’s needed but it’s a household of men that aren’t into that kind of stuff. Mama and daddy will be stopping by daily to see if she needs help, I’ll go in the evenings and see and I do have training with wound care and 12 years in the nursing home but I’m still not a nurse. We will just keep praying she can keep healing and I’m sure she has many visits to the doctors coming up. Please keep praying for her and her family.

Take care my friends, I hope you have a great day today. God Bless each and every one of you. Thank you for your kind words and support. I think blog land is pretty darn awesome!!

Emergency Telephone Numbers…

I got this today from my second cuz in the cities and thought I’d share it with you today. What sorta made me do this is this posting at Anitra if mama ain’t praying. I loved reading what she had to say and you might also and then when you have time check this out and it just might make the day go a bit better for you knowing that you have someone to call when you need to talk.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

These are more effective than 911. Call when . . .

You are sad, phone John 14

You have sinned, phone Psalm 51

You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91

People have failed you, phone Psalm 27

It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139

Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11

You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23

You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19–34

You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13

You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18

You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39

You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30

It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90

You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30

You are leaving home for a trip, phone Psalm 121

You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87

You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1

Inflation’s and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31

You are depressive, phone Psalm 27

Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37

You lose faith in mankind, phone Corinthians 13

It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15

You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126

You feel the world is small compared to you, phone Psalm 19

You want to carry fruit, phone John 15

Paul’s secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17

With big opportunity/discovery, phone Isaiah 55

To get along with other people, phone Romans 12

ALTERNATE NUMBERS

For dealing with fear, call Psalm 3:47

For security, call Psalm 121:3

For assurance, call Mark 8:35

For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18

All of these numbers may be phoned directly

No Operator assistance is necessary

All lines to Heaven are available 24 hours a day

An update on my sister. She is still holding her own. Going from deaths door 8 days ago to being able to hold a conversation and be coherent is wonderful. They are treating her for a super infection that started from her fall and neglect of her body. She has a very long ways to go and I think she is seeing that it is so easy to get back into the bad even after being so good for 4 years. We are all behind her with lots of love and prayers and again we can see our great Lord working in mysterious ways. Cindy has a place and a purpose on this earth and the Lord just keeps putting her back together so that in some way some how she’s teaching herself and others just how great he is. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

So that’s that for today or at least for right now. I hope that you all have a blessed day. Take care and God Bless you all!!!!

Oh, oh…one more thing….

Before it’s to late….I just got this link and have to share it with you. Check it out and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

http://ak.imgag.com/imgag/product/preview/flash/bws8Shell_fps24.swf?ihost=http://ak.imgag.com/imgag&brandldrPath=/product/full/el/&cardNum=/product/full/ap/3166187/graphic1

Snow…

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow… and boy that’s what it did this Christmas. I have a couple of pictures I have got to share with you that I took Christmas evening. I love them and think you will too.

See I told you you’d like them. The little decorate tree is something Mike does for his grandma every single year. Since they put up tons of decorations and we do just a bit here and there, what we do mama can’t see so for his grandma he decorates her a tree on the north side of our house so when she’s washing dishes she can see it from her house. Now they don’t live to close, if you look at the little tree and on the right side of it is a bright white little lite (looks like a snowflake but it isn’t) that’s they yard light from their barn but she can see it and loves it plus I get to see it from my kitchen and enjoy it too.

I think for the next week or so I’m not going to be doing any crafting or putzing. I need to get my house back in order, take care of my full house since no school and try to get caught up on some paperwork. So if I don’t blog to much forgive me, after school starts I have a couple projects I’ll be sharing with you.

Take care my friends, have a great day today. Our sun is shining but it’s windy and cold but it’s Minnesota, what can we expect :o)

God Bless you all.

My family……

I had to share this picture of Mike with you. I took it at my cousins wedding this past week. I just can’t believe he’s turning 18 in just a couple short months. He is the apple of my eye, I love him so much. He made the B honor roll this past trimester. He learned to play the guitar and got an A+ from that class. His teacher loved his community service project and his accounting teacher thinks he’s just great and guess what, he is the only male in a class of 8 and he’s in heaven. Mike is my protector, he worries about his mama. When he finds a girl she will be the luckiest girl in the world.

This is my mama. Isn’t she the most beautiful woman? I sure do think so. I love my mama. She is my turd in my pocket. It’s a joke between us two. Whenever there is something to do, somewhere to go, anything we take our turd with. Being her with me or me with her. I can’t imagine the day when she won’t be in my life. It’s a good thing I plan on her living to be over a hundred. :o) 

These are my grandparents. Grandpa is 95 and grandma is 92. My grandma still gardens, sews and takes care of grandpa. She’s an amazing woman!!!

This is my daddy. He found his voice about 10 years ago and you know what, he sounds like a dream. Daddy sings with the Geritol Frolics every fall. They do a huge production and you know what, it’s for people over 50 and the average age is 70 or so. He sings at our 4th of July family get together and is wonderful. My daddy is a great man. He is always there whenever I need him.

Daddy is the tin man, this was one of my favorite productions he was in.

This is all of us last year at my nephews graduation party.

Cindy is the little one next to my son, she’s the one so very, very sick.

My guy. I’ve been married to Jim for just almost 30 years now. He’s an amazing man. He takes good care of Mike and I. We takes us camping, fishing, boating, hiking. We work together on many different things, like right now we all are rebuilding a 1990 Chevy blazer. He’s a jack of all trades and master of lots.

I just wanted to introduce you to my family. I have a great family, one of the bests.

These are my reasons for happiness, love, blessings and joy. God had given me so much and I thank him daily for it all.

I hope you can find all the good the Lord has given you cuz no matter what there’s family and they make the world go around.

Merry Christmas everyone. May God Bless you and keep you safe.

Merry Christmas….

 

Here’s wishing you and yours the most blessed Christmas ever. We are the luckiest people on Earth to have a savior that was born to die for us so that we can spend eternity in heaven with him. He has blessed all of us in one way or another and though life may seem just horrible at time he’s there to help us along. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, with all your might and with all your soul and he will take care of us.

I am doing just that with my sister being so very sick. It’s so hard at times to just lean on him but I have too, he’s the only one that can help her or help the doctors to help her. I got to talk to her today, she didn’t make lots of sense but I still got to hear her voice. They have her pretty drugged up but she has been moved for ICU to a hospital bed. Today they did some surgery on her leg, they had to get the infection out of there. Her liver is almost non-existent but if there’s even as little as 7% in good shape it can start to re-heal itself. Today she’ll find out the results on her endoscope so we’ll know what’s going on inside. She’s a mess but with the Lords help and all our prayers I am sure she’ll get better again. She has too, everyone needs her. I’ll keep your posted on how things are going.

Thank you for all your prayers for my family and I. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful circle of friends being here, there or on-line. I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to one and all and may God Bless you and keep you safe this most joyous day!!

Update and our party….

You know, it's hard to be happy and sad and worried and excited and busy and upset and all those at the same time. It's draining but..........

Cindy is holding her own right now. She's to weak for them to do any testing so maybe tomorrow they can start to find out all that's going on. They know she has an ulcer that was bleeding bad but once they started her on some medicine it stopped that bleeding. The found some other spots in the stomach but don't know and won't speculate on them until more testing. Her liver is shot and not sure what they can do about that. I don't know if it's to far gone this time to reheal itself but we'll find out in the next few days what is what. They are keeping her sedated to keep her calm and comfortable. I didn't go see her yet but Scott (her son) keeps me informed on what's what. He spent the day here with us and didn't want to go see her tonight, he just needed some happy time so let him. He'll be home the next couple of days with dad and Kevin (his brother), then maybe he'll be back for a couple of days, we'll try anyways. I’m planning on going tomorrow if our weather holds out. We’re suppose to in for a snowstorm but sometimes the weatherman isn’t exactly right.

  

Today was our Christmas party. The kids had a blast and loved all the homemade goodies I made them. They loved the music game Mike got them and the digger Jim got them. Mike and Scott took them sledding twice today so I'm sure they will all sleep well. I gave my parents some home made stuff too like record bowls with candy in them, home made laundry soap, jam/jellies and trays of cookies. I also made heating pads for each family. I got a tortilla maker from my families. I've been looking for one for a couple of years but are too expensive to just get one so the three families went in together and got me one. YEAH!!!! Homemade tortillas.

 

The ornament I made is from Rene (my cousins wife and kindergarten teacher in Mpls), she gave me the glass ornaments from her church that were out dated so I took the kids picture and cut it to fit the glass, then on the back put the names and date on it. A bit of glitter to finish the edges and they came out really cool I think. I hope everyone likes them and their gifts.

So I am going to do a few more things and then be done for the day. Really I am off now for 4 days and I can't wait. I need a break. Can't be good for anyone if I'm not up to snuff.

I want to thank everyone for their words of support and your prayers. Keep them coming please, we need them. I will keep you posted on what I know as time goes by.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!

Prayer request….please….

My sister is in the ICU. She’s very, very sick and needs lots of prayers. Cindy has had a rough life, some self inflicted other parts brought on because of this but she has always pulled though from the deepest places and right now needs lots of prayers. My parents are besides themselves, her husband and kids are just waiting to see what’s going on and here I am just getting more upset because I can’t do anything or help anyone. It has been 4 years to the week that Cindy was this sick. She had quit drinking, her liver had healed itself and she was a nice person to be around. It was so much fun spending time with her. Now she’s back in the bad spot and I’m not sure what to do. I know, pray and pray a lot but right now my stomach is churning and I have a headache and I’m worried. My daycare kids have been fantastic today, we’ve done some baking and playing but when I’ve needed the quiet time they just have seemed to know and have played quietly or watched a movie. They really have been great.

Just please take the time to say a prayer for Cindy, her family and mine and we’ll hope that the Lord sees she’s still needed here on earth and that he’ll just give her another chance. She’s a great person with some personal problems but she still deserves to be here with all of us and we need her.

The Lords will, will be done….I know that and I know that if things were to happen Cindy would be in heaven with Jesus and she’d no longer have the problems and pains she does but ……. but I love her and want her here. I’m selfish, I’ll admit it. Mama and daddy need their daughter, Scott and Kevin Jr need their mama, Kevin Sr needs his wife, I need my sister.

Okay, I just wanted to share and ask for the support I know I will get from my friends. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I’ll keep you posted on what’s what as life unfolds.

God Bless you all!!

Requested Turtle recipe….

Paula asked me to tell her how I made the turtles I talked about in one of my other posts so here’s a super easy recipe, super quick and very good tasting and hard to keep on hand.

Buy a bag of cheap tiny pretzels (I notice the Wal-mart now has the Great Valu brand in these). The ones all twisted up like the big ones.

Buy a bag of Rolo’s, these aren’t cheap but I haven’t found anything else to use yet.

Buy a bag of milk chocolate chip cookies (cheap works just fine here too)

Buy a small bag of halved pecans (generic works here too).

I like to use parchment paper on my cookie sheet but if you really don’t have any be sure to spray your pan with some anti-stick stuff.

Put down as many pretzels on your cookie sheet as you have candies. Try not to eat to many Rolo’s, though it is hard. Open all the Rolo’s and place one on each pretzels. They won’t stay in the center but close counts. Stick the cookie sheet and goodies in a preheated oven to 250* for about 10 minutes. Remove the cookie sheet and take your pecan halves and put one on each Rolo and press down a bit. You can center them now that the candy is soft. Don’t push to hard or you’ll push all the goodness though the pretzel. Now let them cool. Since I like in Minnesota I stick them out on the porch for 10 minutes to harden. While they cool I put about a cup of chocolate chips in a baggie and stick it in the microwave for a minute or until when you poke the chips they are soft. I cut a corner off the baggie and squeeze a drizzle on each turtle. That’s it. Easy to make and yummy to eat.

Here’s what they look like.

 

Today was the beginning of school Christmas vacation. We had a blast. We have just enough snow to go sliding so we did that for a couple hours this morning and again this afternoon. We made peanut butter, caramel, chocolate bars which tasted wonderful. Tomorrow we’ll be making the sugar cookies and some banana bread. We also need to make puppy chow with Crispix. Then I think that will be the end of the baking for our Christmas party. I’m so ready for my little ones to have their party. I love it. I love that Mike takes the day off to be with “his” kids, it is one of the most wonderful days here at daycare.

Well it’s time to finish cleaning up and just relax a little bit.

Take care my friends, have a great day tomorrow. Sleep well tonight and remember to thank our great Lord for all the most awesome blessing he has bestowed on us. God Bless!!

 

Done sewing until after Christmas….

Well I’m done. It’s time to put the sewing machine away until after the first of the year. Christmas vacation starts next week and since I do all my sewing/crafting and everything at the kitchen table it’s time to put it all away so we can do kid crafts and projects.

I finished up the bed warmers today. All of them are filled with rice except the patchwork one and that ones filled with oil dry (cheap kitty litter). Kim told me about using the oil dry so I gave her a bunch for her bed warmers and I tried it too. I don’t think it stays as warm as long as the rice but it’s sure cheaper and really as long as it warms up the bed, toes, back ….whatever’s cold that’s all that matters. Mike gets the patchwork one and if he really likes it then I’ll make more for my nephews next year. Here’s what they all look like. My grandma’s is the dragonfly one and the rest are for my daycare families.

Hannah, Justin and I made jam today for their parents and then I made us a cobbler. It’s raspberry, blackberry and cranberry…. it’s wonderful. The kids had it on sandwiches for lunch today plus they were eating by the spoonfuls from the pan before I washed it. The cobbler looks so pretty.

 

I have Russian tea cakes ready to make but will let the kids nap and then we’ll do them when they get up. A great way to wait for the kids from the bus and also a great snack (and with any luck enough left over for our Christmas party next week).

I hope all is well with everyone and that you are enjoying the wonderful holiday season. Tomorrow Mike and I are going to run away, just the two of us, and do a bit of looking and maybe stocking stuffer buying. Really we have all the gifts and goodies we need but those last minute finds sometimes are worth it. Mike wants to go to Bath and Body Works and one of my daycare mommies gave us a $10.00 off coupon so I’m sure we’ll find something good there. Otherwise I’m hoping for a quiet and peaceful weekend. With school out next week there won’t be any quiet days for a couple of weeks, though I’m not complaining at all….I love all my little/big ones.

I’ll try and get back here next week but if for some reason there just isn’t time then MERRY CHRISTMAS all my dear friends. I wish you the happiest of all Christmases. Take care and God Bless!!!!

If at first you don’t succeed…

Try and try and try and try ….. well you get the idea. Last night I watched a Creative Juice that I had DVR’d and she was wiring wrapping sea glass and since I’ve been wanting to learn to do rocks I thought I’d take her idea and try and make it into something I could do. Well I tried and tried, tried and tried again and …….okay…see the mistake pile?…

Well in the end, after about 2.5 hours of working on it, here’s what I came up with. I didn’t use the right tools but it’s just practice anyways but I tried. See….

These rocks are ones that Mike and I polished a long time ago and I think are a bit small and slippery. They are just about an 1” big or so. So it was difficult to get the wire to stay put but after weaving it in and around in the back it doesn’t look to bad. I do need the right tools though, I just used a vice grip and pliers with teeth on them booth and you can see that on the wire but for my first two that worked I don’t think they are too bad.

I’m going to check out the rest of our rock collection and see what I can find that have a bit more definition in shape so would be a tad easier to keep the wire wrapped but if you don’t try, you’ll never learn so I’m trying and learning.

I have a bit more sewing to day. Mike wants a slip cover for his iTouch and I want to make some foot warmers but first it’s some house work and my little ones. It’s already 14* outside so today we are going to head outside and play. Hannah isn’t impressed with the snow but it’s mainly she can’t walk so well yet and she keeps falling down but she’ll learn. Say, the day before yesterday I put her hair in two pigtails and she looked so cute. Her hair is always in her eyes but no one wants to trim her hair yet so we’ve been doing a single ponytail but she keeps pulling that out so thought maybe two would last longer. It does sorta but that’s because it takes her a bit longer to find both tails. Anyways, here’s Justin and Hannah while we were making candy.

So now it’s onward and upwards to the day. Take care my friends and try and enjoy this holiday season. It only comes once a year and though it can get stressful at times it’s such a blessed time. God Bless you all!!!

Done with totes…

And really I don’t want to sew another tote for a while. They did turn out really good though but I am so tired of sewing totes, pouches and boxy pouches. It’s time to look for something different, like heating pads or a table runner or ….. oh the other ideas. So here’s the boys totes…

 

I got most of the presents wrapped and under the tree. Now comes the baking. The kids and I made suckers today. I got the idea from Pens and Needles  They are super easy and according to Justin are really tasty.

I didn’t have sucker sticks but did have popsicle sticks and they seemed to work just fine and in fact made the suckers a tad bit hardier. We also made turtles from pretzels, Rollo's, pecans and a chocolate drizzle. Justin didn’t get to test them, I did and boy are they good too.

Tomorrow I was suppose to be off but things changed so now I have kids so we’ll do a bit more baking. I am hoping for some warmer weather too. Since the kids are starting to feel better it’s time to get out and enjoy the snow.

Well good night my friends, have a blessed night sleep. Take care and God Bless!!

Beautiful lights….

We went to the Arboretum tonight and got to drive thru their beautiful light display. We’re still learning about our cameras so some of the pictures aren’t perfect but you get the idea. Most of the displays are moving ones so someone worked very hard building these set and we got to appreciate their work. Told you I’d share.

    

Now it’s time for bed, of course Bobbie and Wilbur are already sleeping. Wilbur loves sleeping under the blanket until he gets hot, see the little white and black nose? Bobbie and Wilbur are partners. The play together and sleep together.

  

Good night my friends, sleep well and have a blessed Sunday.

Craft shows……sad this time!

http://www.share-christmas.com/stories/merrychristmas/

A great site to check out for all kinds of Christmas stuff. My mama sent it to me and I’ve enjoyed it for the past few days. Haven’t even gotten to parts of it yet.

My craft show was terrible. I’m a bit depressed about it though I know it’s part of doing the shows. I have come to a decision also, we’ve been doing craft shows now for about 6 years and I’m done. I need to take a break so next year I’m not going to do any more. Brenda agrees with me so we are going to go to craft shows as customers instead of vendors. Our jewelry won’t lose it’s value by sitting in the brief case for a year or so and our beads can just sit in their tote until we are ready to start over. I’m tired of having most weekends filled with working a show, it’s time to play a bit. I know I’ll miss them and the extra cash they do bring in on most shows but I don’t think I’ll miss them enough to start them up again right away.

I did have a blast at the show because my mama came and we spent the whole day chatting. She is just the perfect mama. She’s not just my mama, she’s my best friend. We just watched people, played the “what do you think she’s was thinking by wearing that” and “my goodness, what happened to that hair”. This year mama has helped me with all the craft shows because my partner broke her ankle and foot and wasn’t able to do them. Mama, I LOVE YOU and THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!

Good night my friends, have a blessed weekend. I work tomorrow with my daycare little ones plus my nephew is here for the weekend. Tomorrow evening we are going Christmas light looking. I'll bring my camera and maybe can get a good picture or two to share with you. I love Christmas lights!

God Bless my friends.

Latest projects and ……

Well Christmas sure is fast approaching. Today it is cold here and windy with some snow. South and east of us got lots more snow then we did but just means we get the wind and cold. I just got the kids down for their naps, put wood on the fire and now it’s time to do some pricing but first I wanted to share my latest Christmas projects.

  For Terri….

This is the one from the scrapbook store….

Kim and I saw this at our local scrapbooking store and the lady there said her supplier no longer carries the small clipboards so I did a bit of digging and from Oriental Trading Company I found them. They are 2/$4.99 so I decided to see what I could do. They come white so painted it, added some goodies, found a poem and here it is. I’ve been trying to figure out what to get Terri for Christmas and finally think I have it. What do you think? Think she’ll like it. The poem is removable and she can use the clip board like any other one, just a bit prettier.

I have this project that I started. Mark, my uncle gave me this chair this summer because I wanted to make a planter from it. So I took it apart, sanded it, glued it and proceeded to put it back together and then….I used a hammer to put the legs on and cracked the seat, unglued the back brace and made a mess so last night re-glued everything and hopefully in the next week or so I can show you the completed deal. We’ll see though, it needs lots of work still.

Then I decided to take a hint from Kim and cut out some letters with my jig saw (Kim has to keep telling me what these tools are I’m using, I thought I was using a band saw until she explained what, what is). As you can tell I’m not a wood butcher but I’m learning. I started out with the J’s, went to the H, then the tree and I just couldn’t help doing something else so did the JJM for Jim, Julie and Mike. I love the way that one turned out, see it looks better here….

I am thinking I’d like to make this bigger and put it on the side of the house. This one is just 4”x5.5” and if I can do that I should be able to do one a foot by two or so. Maybe…hopefully…guess I’ll see.

Well it’s time for pricing and organizing for Friday. I’m a bit apprehensive about this craft show. Not sure what type of people come to a hospital craft show and since it’s so cold will any body except employees? I suppose it really doesn’t matter in the end, I’m doing it, it’ll turn out and if I can make just a little bit of money I’ll be happy.

Take care my friends and have a great afternoon. Stay warm if you’re from up here, stay inside if you’re from the cities and anywhere else, stay safe. God Bless my friends.

Craft show….

Since the up-coming craft show has lots of used jewelry on it I’m thinking that our jewelry probably won’t sell as good as it usually does so I’ve been working on bits and pieces of different stuff. I had to share with you what I made this weekend and finished up today. It was fun, fast and easy but I think they turned out pretty good and I should be able to sell them for a couple dollars a piece. So what do you think? They are key rings, flash drive holders and book marks (or anything they want them to be).

   

   

This afternoon at nap I’m going to be making fork easels'. Kim taught me how to do this last year at Christmas and I gave them to my daycare parents and they loved them. I have one that holds my favorite picture of my family. Then I want to make a few record bowls. I sold a couple of them at my craft shows so will see how they go there. Then I think that will be enough making, it’ll be time for cleaning and pricing and organizing. Boy are nap times busy.

I’m off, the kids and I are going to play with the trains a bit and then it’ll be lunch time and nap. Since they are sick along with their mama we aren’t doing a whole bunch that takes energy but soon they’ll be back to par and it’ll be time to be ran ragged. I love it!! :o)

Take care, have a super day. God Bless my friends.

As much as I’d like too….

Take credit for the house decorations with the man falling off the house, it’s not mine. Someone sent it to me on day and I just had to post it for the funny. It was such a cute idea. I wasn’t to clear I guess on me living in the country and no one seeing something like that but that’s fine. I just didn’t want to take credit where it wasn’t due. I am so glad you love it though and please, Queen T, show it to your son because I bet he’ll love it.

Okay, I’m off to get the DC kids from their home. Their mama is so sick she couldn’t possible get the Jon on the bus and Justin and Hannah here so I’m going to go there, pick up them up and take Jon to school and then come back home with the other two. They are sick too but both are on antibiotics so hopefully that means starting to feel better. I’m doing my best to stay healthy so that I can be here for everyone when they need me.

So take care my friends and have a great day today. I’m hoping for some sunshine and warmth but we’ll see, it’s Minnesota and just who knows from day to day. Bye for now and God Bless!!!

Done….maybe….

Remember the 1/2 price item I told you about. Well it was this, a dinner jacket….

 

I couldn’t beat the price of $1.50 so brought it home and made two each of these….

One of my daycare mom’s needed an inexpensive pouch for a niece and asked me to make her a couple. So here they are. I am not a fan of working on velvet but it turned out okay and I put a turtle charm on the boxy pouches for good luck and just some jewels on the drawstring pouch. Now to come up with a fair price. I’m figuring total cost of all 4 items was $6.00 or so and that mostly just replacement cost of the zippers and charms, anyways, we’ll just see.

For our #4 Christmas craft challenge the kids decorated doves and cardinal cut outs from Kim’s blog, www.ubercrafter.blogspot.com, even Mike got into painting with Anton last night.

   

For craft challenge #5, we did these and boy was I impressed the way they came out. I think we’ll be making more of these to add to the Christmas gifts.

So now daycare is over for the weekend, my nephew is coming to spend the afternoon/evening with us and I think I’m going to go and take a short nap, I’m beat, 66 hours of daycare this week was plenty plus I spent my ladies night out, a scouting evening and my sewing. It’s time.

Take care my friends, have a great rest of your weekend. God Bless.

Free Christmas music…

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&ref_=dm%5Fgw%5Fcastingcrowns4&tag=afullcup04-20&docId=1000453281

Good evening….

On Cheapie Cheapie Krista found this and it’s pretty cool. 25 free days of Christmas music. Each day is a new release. I was able to download 4 days worth tonight but not sure if that will keep up or you have to do it day by day. I didn’t get a chance yet to listen to all 4 all the way though but I know day one sounded really nice. I figure if it’s not quite what I want I can delete it but didn’t want to miss out in case it was something really good.

I love sitting and sewing or crafting with music in the background and since it’s usually nap time when I’m doing it I can’t really listen to it on the stereo so having it on my laptop is perfect.

Here is another thing I want to share with you.

http://theknackkids.com/ProjectView/Code/kn0752.aspx?reg_source=KNL1209&cm_ven=mic&cm_cat=news&cm_pla=email&cm_ite=1209Kid

This is so cute. I don’t think I’ll do the gift bags but the kids could do painting on paper like this. Even Hannah can do something like this if someone first made the tree and she can just dot some decoration on it.

I have something else to share with you too but will wait until tomorrow to see if I can get at last part of it done so you can see but think of this….take something that costs $3.98, take 50% off at Ladies Night Out last night, cut it apart, make at least 4  Christmas gifts from it and they’ll each have bling too. Sorta confusing but you’ll see.

Good night my friends, sleep well. God Bless!!

Got this today and had to share….

Well, there is good news and bad news about my Christmas decorations this year.

Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas decorations. 

The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever.

Great stories. But two things made me take it down.

First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.

Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top,she was not happy. By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that.

My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard.

Kind of feel like I gave in to the  man by taking him down but my neighbor did confirm to near miss accidents on the busy street next to my house. I think I made him too real this time So it was fun while it lasted.

 

I had to share this with you this morning. It was just to cute not too.

I think I’m fighting off a cold, I’m tired, cold and slightly stuffy. I went to Terri’s (she’s does natural healing goodies) and she gave me some elderberry tincture and super tonic to take along with the colloidal silver and if that doesn’t cure me then nothing will. I do so appreciate her making sure I’m healthy though and will try just about anything she sends my way. If you want to, go to www.cedarheavencreations.com and check her out.

Okay, off to fixing the third breakfast of the day and then some scouting paperwork. The kids are going to work on Craft Challenge #4 today. Borax snowflakes. I’ll be sharing them tomorrow or Sunday with you.

Take care and God Bless!!!

P.S. My mama’s friend Cleo has cancer and is just not doing very well at all. She’s almost 90 years old and has been able to do everything for everyone for so long and now is just so weak. She’s a giver but now it’s time for her to be a getter. So please pray for her and her husband Richard. He’s so lost without Cleo taking care of him.

Do you ever….

Just wake up in the morning with pure happiness? Where no matter the weather, the others in the family, anything you just feel so content? Do you ever just smile walking down the hallway? Do you ever just have those butterflies in your tummy because of pure delight? Well today is my day! I love every single thing in my life. Oh yes, I have lots and lots of challenges but you know, I can make it. I can do it. I have so many helpers in my life. Family, friends, acquaintances, and the biggy…the Lord. I feel so content in my life, this is exactly the place the Lord wants me to be right now. It’s an amazing feeling. I feel it often but sometimes just ignore it or don’t know quite what it is but today I had time after my guys left for work, Jon left for school and my little ones woke up to just sit here and think, feel and wonder.

I wish each and everyone of you a feeling like this. Take care my friends and find something in your life that makes those butterflies jump around and thank our great Lord for it. I know I did and will continue too.

God Bless!!!

Now also I have a new follower and her name is Cori. You have got to go and check out her paintings, they are beautiful and so full of expression. Her blog is http://coriberg.blogspot.com/  You’ll see why I’m suggesting you go there.

 

I'm going to be happy today,
    Though the skies may be cloudy and gray
No matter what may come my way
    I'm going to be happy today.
                                               - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Two out of four….

Well I made two of the four totes I need for part of the kids Christmas gifts. They didn’t turn out to bad at all. Under the handles I put feed sack so that they won’t tear them out if they load the totes up extra heavy. They’re not perfect but I’m thinking the girls will like them. What do you think?

Have you every bought something just because of a name? Well I did and it didn’t cost me more then a dollar either. While at our local Dollar Store I found these and just couldn’t resist getting them. I’ve never seen this brand before. It’s written in French and English (different sides of the bag). How can you know by this when your name is written all over it?! Oh just had to share this.

Mike and I got the tree up tonight and a few decorations out. I’m not into filling the house up any more for the season, just a touch here and there. I did get to put out my Nativity set which I haven’t in years because of little ones but I put it into the cabinet that Mike made me in wood shop and it looks pretty cool (plus they’re safe from little hands).

Now it’s time to shut this off, take a shower and head to bed. I’m not feeling tip top, either the start of a cold or just plain tired. I hope that all is well with you all. Sleep tight and God Bless!!

Mixed Media Artist….

http://www.mixed-media-artist.com/ 

Scroll down just a tad and see….it’s me and my tote. Cyndi was doing a feature on spoonflower, a material making place. I just happen to come by her blog, saw the wordle words and left a message about my tote. And ……well it just happened. Go and check it out and see what I’m talking about.

Have a great day. God Bless!!!