Snow ~ Project Runway ~ Back to School

We finally got snow.  The younger two girls have been playing in it, getting pulled around in sleds, with chasing dogs behind them.


Today the sun is trying to peak out, but the wind is swift enough to dry my larger items outside on the line.  The rest are on drying racks in front of the wood stove.


And if you are wondering if our family motto is really true or not ("Eat it up, Wear it out, Make it do, Or go without.") check out those pink flannel sheets on the line.  Those used to be mine as a kid.  Mom gave them to me several years ago, and now my own kids are using them.  The elastic is giving out on the bottom sheet, but they sure come in handy in this old farm house.

As for the "Project Runway" part of the post, think "projects."

I have a list of more crafting projects that need finished or completed, and I'll post them as I complete them.

Over the school winter break, I finished a set of cup coasters, a few ornaments and dishcloths.  I also crocheted one of the girls a hat.

Classy Cloche Hat Pattern

and a pair of slippers. . .

I didn't really have a pattern for these.  I just kind of "winged" it.  Either way, I managed to finish them and use leftover yarn in my "stash."

I also ironed transfers onto 5 shirts, 2 lunch bags, one bible/book cover, on tote bag (actually two, but will add that in a minute), and one bandanna.

I guess I deleted the photo already, but my advice is to never play a guessing game with five kids while ironing on transfers.  One transfer was ironed on upside down. Ha ha ha ha!

Today, the kids are back in school.  I overheard them this morning, while waiting for the school bus.


".....I know....they'll ask what are your resolutions..."


"....and what did you do over break..."


"...I know....and they go one at a time.....what did you get for Christmas...."


This was all said in high pitched sarcastic mimicking voices.  What used to be fun to share in elementary, is not so fun for middle and high school anymore.  I got a chuckle listening to them imitate teachers.  After they left, I had one more to put on a school bus.  Only her conversation was:


"....I know Tig.....I don't want to go either...."


She was talking to her cat, giving him lots of love, and dreading the return of school.

For the Birds

My son gifted me another trailer.  Isn't it cute?  I will be putting this in the tree just in front of the house.

Happy New Year! It's 2012!

The new year aftermath - indoors. Ha ha ha ha ha!

The new year aftermath - outdoors......I'm sure the barn cats are trying to figure out what that funny string stuff is. Ha ha ha!

Despite one daughter having to work at 4am the morning of New Year's Eve, and my son working New Year's Eve and this morning, I think they all had a good time last night.

We added more healthier foods to our festive night this year - a fruit tray.  

Growing up, Mom always had tables full of snacks she baked for Christmas, Chex mix was a must, and punch in the punch bowl.  As a tradition, we would all sleep underneath and around the Christmas tree.  In the morning it would come down.  It was a real tree every year.  I look forward to putting up a real tree here (once the cats learn not to climb it).

When we took down the tree, and after the ornaments came off and were put away, we would take down (what we called) the tinsel.  You know, those tiny slivers of silver that you can decorate your tree with?

We used something very similar, if not the same brand, as the one above - Icicles.

Not only would we put these on one at a time, but we'd take them off one at a time, and put them back in the box for the next Christmas.  We still laugh about that.

We didn't keep that tradition in my home today, but we do take our tree down January 1st.  It's a struggle to get it all back in the boxes they came out of, but we some how get it all put away.

It's a happy-sad day - January 1st.  It's the start of a new year, the start to start over, and the end of the holidays.  


Here's to a great start with the new year!

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.