A Little Bit of Summer

On Monday my husband had off of work, and it is free day at our local indoor gardens if you are a county resident. So that is where we went. In a winter where our December snowfall was second highest EVER, it is so nice to get to a place and remember what GREEN STUFF looks like (I have made no secret my feelings about winter!!). There are three glass domes, one is tropical, one is arrid, and one is a special area that always changes. Currently it is Christmas themed, and the huge tree is pictured below. The sun was shining through the glass ceiling and walls, the plants were giving us plentiful oxygen, and seeing the greenery was a feast for our eyes which have become accustomed to the nothingness of white white white. It was a good time to visit these gardens because despite the crowds (we are not the only ones that love getting in free!!), it reminded us of the life that awaits underneath the frozen ice, the beauty that will come in a few months, and the warmth and rebirth that will follow winter. The gardeners in this indoor park always do an amazing job.

An extra treat was that we ran into my cousin and her family! They popped into our picture behind us, unknown to me; isn't that hilarious?! I hope she doesn't mind me including the picture--it turned out so cute (tho' her youngest must be behind us, and we can't see her in this shot!), and I got such a kick out of it! A special thanks for her for taking the time to check out my etsy shop and read my blog!


Tonight, being New Year's Eve, we have a date with Kung Fu Panda, and will have a party supper of little pieces of pizza, eggrolls and other snacky items! I do plan to be in bed before the new year arrives... it is just one of those years where some quiet is appealing, and I will enjoy my rest! :-)


Thanks for reading, and a VERY Happy New Year to you all!! I hope your 2009 is filled with health, happiness, and dreams accomplished.

I'll see you next year (har har dee har!)!!!

Putting One Foot in Front of the Other

Well, even though it is 14 degrees this morning, I ventured to walk to the post office. It is about five blocks one way--and I realize that walking through ice and snow makes your legs feel like you just ran a marathon in sand. BUT it was quite beautiful, with no wind, so the cold did not get to me, and I was able to enjoy the pretty part of winter.

I know those of you that know me probably just fell off of your chair--but it is true! I am trying to take the "bad" with the good and appreciate the whole experience.

Well, sometimes.

I am probably just so glad that I don't have to drive in a blizzard like yesterday!

Now that that trip is done, how should I spend my two hours (less now) with Girlie at school? I have many projects to work on. As a matter of fact, I am going to swallow my pride and show the horror that are my work tables (trust me, the other one is even worse!)... how can I get anything accomplished?! Well, my ideas and need for clean up surpass my time to actually do them!

One thing I need to finish are these sports pendants I made from resin for my craft fair on Saturday. They are pretty simple, but I thought they might appeal to girls in sports... now they need to be sanded several times and drilled. I like drilling, but sanding isn't my favorite... so maybe I should do that first!

So, instead of just thinking about what to do next, much like my trip to the post office, I will just get started--which can be difficult for me! Just put one foot in front of the other.... :-)

What Lies Beneath

I have been working feverishly, in between entertaining a four-year-old (who, yes, has gotten paint in her hair) to paint a little room in our house that hasn't been touched in the 13 years we've lived here. I still have some trim to finish (yes, painted wood, sigh). Last night I pulled off the carpet (and hubby helped me finish--small room, but that carpet got heavy!).

I am sure it seemed like a good idea at the time, but someone stuck linoleum tiles all over the hardwood floor. They are kind of a cool pattern, though. I wonder how old they are--they are actually engraved linoleum--not a printed pattern. This house dates back to 1890, so it could be any time in between. I just love old things like that. I was never great in history class, but when it is in front of you, tangible--it is exciting to think of the people who lived here in the past with their own families and lives, joys and sorrows... Did they have to save up for the linoleum? Were they so excited with their "new look"? Or was it simply a weekend project, no big deal?

Anyway, even though the pattern appeals to me, it doesn't look right where it is located in the house (I might leave it for a kitchen or ??), so we will probably have to look into some carpet squares. We are not up for refinishing the floor, it would need lots of work. We have done other rooms in the house, and we are tired of doing that right now (!!!!!!).

Ok, time to get ready for my flu shot appointment. I am less concerned about the poke than freezing my bootie--it is a whopping 7 degrees here this morning!!!

Cyber Monday

Well, we only got 3" instead of the 9" of snow predicted. But it was a strange snowfall--areas that are perhaps only a 45-minute drive away received 10"!!!! (better them than me--oops, that was ungracious!)

Last night we got our Christmas tree up. It was nice because, at age four, my girlie seemed to have a clear memory of Christmas last year for the first time. She was so excited, and it brought back some childhood memories of being excited as well (instead of seeming a touch bit like a chore, getting all of the decorations out, etc etc). My son was quite happy, too, but she took the cake with her enthusiasm.

Many of the ornaments we put up were made by my son, nieces and nephews--she kept saying, "Did I make this?" I think it will be a big year for her to make some ornaments. That is good, there are so many kinds of ornaments to make, and making them as gifts will give her a feel for the giving part of the season.

Speaking of ornaments, I put up some breakable ones that I didn't quite dare in previous years. My mother-in-law split up some of the childhood ornaments a few years ago. I thought you would get a kick out of these. They must be between 20 and 30 years old! What a treasure! Besides, they crack me up! One is crazy clown, and the other must be an alien in a UFO!

Well, today is my first Cyber Monday as someone with an internet shop! Also the last day of my big etsy sale and free shipping offer. We will see how things go!

Today Was a Very Nice Day

Sometimes I wonder how I can still live where I do when 9" of snow is predicted and I CAN'T STAND being cold!! I guess I am blessed with a family I love being around more than I hate the snow. I hope everyone realizes how much that is!! :-)

My kids and two of their cousins whom they adore:

Too Cold for Me, Too Cold for Resin?

Well, I will try not to waste too many words of this blog complaining about the weather--let's just say I am not a winter person (understatement!!). But this morning was a balmy 17 degrees with a windchill of 4 degrees! Goodness!! My poor fella had to really be bundled up this morning. I was silently grateful that my girlie doesn't have 4K today, and we could stay inside. Fortunately, my door faces the door to school, right across the street. So my BIG second grader can walk to the corner and cross with the crossing guard while I watch from my door.... so I got to stay toasty.

Well, the cold weather brings up a creative issue with me. Well, maybe not creative, but functional?? Resin takes a lot longer to cure when it is colder!! My snowflakes that I started yesterday are ready for a second layer at least, but if they were all done, they wouldn't be ready to pop out... In the warmer months, they would have been cured. It is difficult for me to be so patient!!!

I think what I will do to solve this problem is switch gears a bit... I have the snowflakes to finish up, and a couple of other Christmas projects using resin--then I might pack it away for a while (I say "might" because it is hard to stop an obsession!!). What I plan to try is soldering pendants. I put in my order last night, and am truly giddy with excitement!! I read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Soldered-Jewelry-Accessories-Fashioning/dp/1600590306/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227283361&sr=8-1 which I got from the library, and am fascinated! I know there are a lot of artists on etsy already doing this kind of work, and I can't help but try to join them. It looks like so much fun. When my heart really beats, I know it is something I HAVE to try! Yes, I get that excited about it!!!

As the winter progresses, I want to spend a little more time with my polymer clay (which just got so mushy in the summer heat--tho' might be harder to work with in the cold as well...) and also work on some off-loom bead weaving jewelry. And get my craft room organized. And, um, the whole house. Hmmm, I seem to have a long project list again!!! :-) No doubt the organizing will get dropped off, always seems the first to go!!!


I also need to include a picture of my fella sans winter gear because he got his first hair "style." It was a surprise to me when he came back from getting his haircut with my hubby. But it is getting a little long to spike up, so it was time for a picture before it was too late!! It is funny to me to be sharing my gel spray with my little guy! Now if I can only get my girlie to let me comb her hair without a fight! Good luck with THAT one!!