Bringing in the New Year ~ Out with the Old

As I sit here and reflect on this year, I think about all the experiences I had, as well as my family.

 I fed my family weeds. 

 I learned to stock up more of my garden and invested in a dehydrator. 

Took one weekend getaway with hubby and no kids.

 Took some kids camping. 

Glamped the camper for the first time.

Completed many craft/handiwork projects. 

 Built things with the family.  

 Took a Hearthside cooking class with my oldest daughter. 

 Learn to shoot a gun.

 Bought dairy goats.

Bought more goats.

Watched my daughter buy her horse.

Added more layers to our chicken coop.

Raised our own meat chickens.

Got snowed in and had fun in the snow.

Sent one daughter to see Washington, D.C. for the her first time.

Added new flowers to my flower beds.

Built my first scarecrow.

Baked homemade bread.

Watched many sunrises.

Watched many sunsets.

Watched the moon.

Made the garden larger this year.

Taught myself how to knit.

Taught myself how to do needle tatting.

Participated in National Novel Writing Month for the second year.

Planted redbud trees from a seed.

Thanks for reading this long blog post of reflections.  There was a lot more too!  Happy New Year!

Homemade Thousand Island Dressing ~ Utilizing Home Canned Ingredients

The next time you mix up a big salad, consider this homemade dressing recipe:

I Own Another Trailer~~ and Safe Pet Toys

It's good to dream right?  Well, I was gifted another trailer from my son this year.  Last year he gifted me an ornament that hooks up to Christmas lights.  This year he gifted me this one:

Isn't it darling?  I love it!  Now I own two.  They are not the kind I can go camping in, but dreams do come true.

Yesterday, in the center of completing more projects, my daughter reminded me that we dried catnip for cat toys.  So I hopped on my sewing machine chair and made several for the cats.

I wish all the photos came out.  However, they were rolling around and moving so fast.  Here is Jasper licking his pillow.  I took scrap material and made miniature pillows, and stuffed them with dried catnip (that grows wild on our property).  Tiger, another cat, was holding his pillowing between his front paws and rubbing it on both sides of his face.  We had so much fun watching them.

.....well, it's another day of working on projects....I better get to work.  The year is ending fast and my pile continues to grow.  I made a trip to the thrift store on my way to the grocery store (gulp).  I came home with a few more projects to re-purpose. I gotta quit doing that.  Ha ha ha ha!  Look for those updates on my S.C.R.A.P. blog in the near future.
 

Busy Bee

This past week has been a looooong week.  We have three celebrations during the week of Christmas - one birthday, the celebration of Christmas, and our wedding anniversary.  I just realized that New Year's Eve is Saturday.

Way back before I got sick with a two month case of bronchitis/sinus and ear infection, I started a birthday surprise (shawl) for my youngest daughter.  I did not have time to finish it.  I was able to finish it yesterday.

I crocheted a pattern I found on the Internet, with a shimmer green yarn.  This was a complicated pattern for me, so crochet experts (after taking a very close look) may give me a bad grade.  However, my daughter loves it, and it's one more project completed.

I am also busy making more truffle mold ornaments for gifting and for the kids.  Each one will have an ornament with a photo of their animal(s) in each one.  When these are completed, I will box the rest up for Christmas 2012.

In my quest to get back in shape (after my husband's sister almost passed away and I got sick two times), I have been able to drop 10 pounds.  That part is easy.....it's the rest that will take time.  However, I am ready to shed it and get in shape and be more energetic.

Today, I hope to work on my loooong list of unfinished projects.  And exercise of course.

More Truffle Mold Ornaments

Truffle Mold Ornaments

A while back, I purchased a bag of truffle molds at goodwill, for about $2.00.  I can't remember if I got them half off that day.

I cut photos from magazines and used printed photos to create a few ornaments already.  I did not just outline the photo with glitter, but went a bit further out with it.  I simply used glitter from Hobby Lobby.

These were fun to make, and have helped me clear out my closed of unfinished projects.

Merry Christmas!

Birthday Party and More Gifting

We'll spend today cleaning house.  My 9 year-old daughter has a birthday party tomorrow.  I can still remember when she was born.  I begged the hospital to let me bring her home Christmas Eve.  They dig too.  It was the best Christmas present that year.

Yesterday I found out that the other side of our family (husband's) is having a Christmas party on Friday night also (hmpf!).  I didn't know about it prior to making arrangements for our little one's first every birthday sleepover party.

I ran out of my fun checkered lids for gifting, but canned another 8 - 1/2 pints of Cinnamon-Cider Jelly.  I have yet to can some for my own family.  Maybe after the holidays pass, I can relax and make some for ourselves.  I need to place tags and toppers on these jars and they will be ready to give on Friday night (husband's family party).  I sure hope I canned enough.