Digger

This is a mole.

They burrow tunnels in our yard continually.

We have a new dog.

She is primarily an indoor dog.

This is a good thing because Poca is also a digger.

I let her out this morning.

Then left the door lightly closed while I got things ready. (she can let herself back in)

I asked her what she had in her mouth, then told her to give it to me.

I wish she had not obeyed.

One digging dog dropped one ugly burrowing mole, dead and slobbered on in my kitchen floor.

The Man at my Address was already gone to work.

This is gonna be one REALLY LOVELY DAY.

College Girl is in the house

The tree is partially done. I say partially because it is a major thing at my house to tell the stories.

I'll add the icicles last -- that's Mom's job. That and the untangling of the lights.




I went to bootcamp first. Came home and went to the Huddle House for an omlet for supper. Then returned home to find College Girl and her boy - Sam - ready to unpack ornaments and get on that tree. BTW -- I like having her home. Softball Princess was off visiting with her boy. All these boys........


College Girl added elf attire.

Looks a little demonic here -- Big tree - she is 6 feet tall and was standing on a chair to reach the top of the tree.

She squealed and giggled and was generally her normally bubbly "hey, look at this" self. Unpacking the ornaments was a whole lot of fun. Star Trek and Star Wars light and sound ornaments were the fun ones for the night.

But her reaction to this was completely unexpected.

Pics follow the preamble ---

Imagine a toddler and a very nice ceramic Nativity that was a wedding gift from my Lovely MIL - Ann. Add in another porcelain Nativity that was also a wedding gift and little toddler hands wanting to hold baby Jesus. RECIPE FOR DISASTER - but soon disaster is averted.

Mom grabbed scrap 2x4 lumber - a pattern from a Spirit of Christmas book - and various assorted other crafty items and made this..........

A toddler friendly, wood block nativity.

Both those girls told the Christmas Story over and over with this thing.

I packed it up years ago and never gave it a thought. I just would leave it on the shelf each year. In my mind it was a "child's toy" and maybe I would break it out again in the future when Grandchildren entered the picture.

Well, The Man at my Address was taking the boxes down last night and he brought that blue box down.

College Girl ---- sharp intake of breath followed by "YOU FOUND IT" squealed in that high pitched voice only girls can do. The child (adult) giggled and danced and squealed and unpacked. Stopped everything she was doing to put this out on the chest in front of the sofa.

She told Sam about playing with it. We talked about why I made it. It was one of those Christmas Memories of hers that I had no idea about. Her reaction to this unlost box being "found" made me realize again how important things are to a child.

I made my night. It has made my day today. In all honesty-- right now I am thinking that reaction may be the best Christmas gift yet.

If you are a regular reader, you know I pondered this a lot after it happened. Obviously one very important memory for my child did not cost me anything but time. An amazing story of the Christ child's birth told over and over between me and my then small girls using a crudely and quickly crafted nativity set equals beautiful memories of Christmases past.

Hmmmm..

An amazing story - initially told by the angels to the shepherds. And for so many years now to all the world.

A quickly decided stay in a crude stable by two unlikely parents.

EQUALS --- the best Christmas Gift for the entire world ever.

I am so blessed that my family had the opportunity to hear and respond to that story.

Now I know this nativity will not be relegated to the attic until the Grands come along. This nativity will be on display each and every year -- because people -- sharing that story with even the smallest children is a memory worth making.

Have a blessed day --- I know I am.

And because this conversation is just too funny not to share. College Girl and the boy are hanging ornaments on our live cedar tree.

COLLEGE GIRL: Hey Sammy, smell my hand.

SAM: You didn't like scratch you butt or something, did you?

Only in my world will that be a Christmas Memory.

Magnet tutorial

This is what mist looks like as you get out of the car at bootcamp.





The view of the track --- from the parking lot. I went prepared. Layers of clothing. Which we came out of when we went into the weight room. Just for the record, I am really ready to have some pretty weather. The weather induced migraine has me cranky and very irritable.

Several weeks ago, my altered clipboard tutorial caught the attention of the manufacturer of the boards that I used. A link was posted to my blog from their facebook page. In following up with that scenario, I discovered a link to the UHU Glues blog. The send out a free sample kit for product review every month. I applied for the december sample kit and was granted one.

The sample included a full size bottle of TWIST AND GLUE, flat glass floral marbles, and magnets. I have used UHU GLUE STICKS before, but was unfamiliar with the TWIST AND GLUE.

Like always, I set up a tray and pondered my project.

Then I ran across these. Decorative ornament hooks. I found mine at a discount store. As quick as I saw these, I knew I wanted to do a variation of the traditional glass magnet.

Here is the process I used. I'll also include product review notes as we go.

First - gather your stuff. Scissors, papers, glass marbles, magnets, TWIST AND GLUE, ornament hooks.

Since all the marbles are slighly different, I placed a marble on my image and outlined it with a pen.

Then I trimmed (and trimmed, and trimmed) until it fit the back of the marble with no excess hanging out. Other people glue then trim with a blade once the glue dries, but this way works for me.

Apply the TWIST AND GLUE to the paper circle and apply to the back of the marble. I had a few bubbles in my glue, but I simply pushed those out with my fingers.

Product review note -- I have made several things using these glass marbles and this is a great product. None of my paper buckled on the glass and the glue dried completely clear. The only thing I had any issue with was a very porous handmade paper and the glue made a bleed through spot on the paper. I suspected that it would, so I tested it first.

Apply the TWIST AND GLUE to the magnet and set the paper covered marble on top of it. See the magnet drying in the background of this picture and the photo below. This will eliminate the magnet sliding around before the glue sets up.

I assembled mine on a small bamboo cutting board so I can set it aside to dry.

Now wait for these to dry --- I left mine over night.

Product review note. The glue dries completly clear. Love that. Again I also like that none of my paper buckled in anyway with this glue.

Now for the fun part - my twist on these

Turn the magnet over face down and slide the hook end around the magnet. Some of mine needed just a little persuasion with the pliers to be a snug fit. My hooks are metal and plenty snug enough to not need additional glue, but you could add a drop if you like.

Now flip them over and look ------ Note holders.

I made mine to coordinate with the clipboards that I made before. I use my clipboard for the grocery list and I plan to clip my coupons to the spiral.


See how the note holder works.

This last one stayed on the fridge for about 45 seconds before the College Girl grabbed it for her dorm room.

Product notes ---UHU TWIST AND GLUE has just become my go to glue for these paper to glass projects. I alos tried it on a few paper gift tags and loved it for that application as well. Thank you UHU for sending my free sample kit to review.

Now if anyone out there makes a modification style magnet, plase leave a comment and let me know.

Have a wonderful day.

Weekend Notes......

One day he will learn. He being the Man at my Address. We went to the tree farm early Saturday, pulled up the hill, parked, I pointed and said "there's one".

Well after an hour of trekking around and looking -- we cut that very first one I pointed at.

He cut. I dragged it out of the lot to the truck and loaded it. Yes - I can tell a huge difference in my strength this year over last year.


Laying here - it looks kinda scraggly, but it isn't. I am very happy with it.

But bringing that baby in means that I had to deal with ..........

Lights. Damn. Gotta be a better way. He puts the tree in the stand and brings it in. He even strings the lights.

Me --- I fight with the untangling and bulb checking and replacing. (sorry - blogger will not let me change this orientation) I think I got the worst of this one. But it has been the job breakdown for many many years.

Poor little tree - is sitting there with just it's white lights. College girl will be home this week to help decorate. Telling the ornament stories is too important to start without her. There will be lots of that fun starting tonight.

So we wait.......

How sweet is this picture? Poca and Daddy.

Then she makes it over to Mom's chair. I always wanted a lap dog, but a 50 pound lap dog is a little too much for the recliner.

Mom also spent time in the studio this weekend. A custom charm order.

Love the JOY one myself.

Someone will recognize the PLAY one -- The little metallic dots are for a not so little one who's name starts with "C" (the other side has the "C" on it)




And this vintage paper one -- one side says "beautiful" ---- the other side of this one says "brave".

Boot camp tonight. Then studio time covering a couple of composition books (another custom order). I also have a product review and tutorial to make and photograph. After that we will add the first of many boxes of ornaments to the tree.

Have a fabulous day.....

I got nothing

It's cold

Hammered at work. Short one of the guys. He's off playing in the mountains.

Bootcamp last night

Chinese food for me and Dad

I left Dad teaching the softball princess the subtle nuances of perfect pancakes and went to bed. I was all tucked in and cozy -- by 8pm. Crazy early for me.

Busy busy weekend ahead ---

Love all ya'll.

Have a beautiful day.

I did not know........

....that chocolate covered cardboard had any protein in it. You know how sometimes you unwrap a cough drop and the paper kinda sticks to it, and you wind up with little paper bits in your mouth, well at least with these the chocolate chips hide the little fibers. Not really.

I've lost 35 pounds - managed to get my running laps up to 3 with out having to start walking and this is the very first (and last) of these I have tasted. Counting my blessings there are only 6 in the box and that I had a coupon. At least I'm only wasting a couple of dollars.

Hell the goats in the pasture behind the store won't even eat these.

Hey FTC People --- This little review was not solicited in anyway by anyone. It was provided by me as a true publice service announcement.

Paper Snowflakes

Having teenage girls is a test of endurance. It is also a detriment to your sanity. Being a realist mother and parenting your children from that standpoint will cause others to raise their eyebrows. I talk to my children in terms that many parents won't. I use words and language they understand - I always have and I always will. I am bluntly honest with them about most things. There is no dancing around difficult subjects between me and my girls. Dad on the other hand, is freaked out often.

Take last night's cell conversation with the 16 year old Softball Princess. (background info - she had to be at the Board of Education meeting for a special academic recognition at 6:45)

My cell phone rings as Dad and I are headed home from work.

SP: I'm heading to Moore's before the thingy.
ME: That boy working there tonight.
SP: Yes (long pause)
ME: You gonna kiss that boy before you leave him.
SP: NOOOOOO - not in public -- that's trashy.
ME: So you will do that in private - huh.
SP: As long as it won't be considered trashy.
ME: (long pause) Just so you know, jumping in the back seat of the car to have sex is trashy too.
SP: OMG ---- MOM ---- Click

Sideways glance from Dad --- OMG you did not just say that to her.

Oh yes I did.

Now for the tutorial I promised. Check this out.

Looks complicated - ladies this is gorgeous and I am going to make several more. I made this one using book pages. But you could use wrapping paper or scrapbook paper. SO SO SO SIMPLE. I PROMISE. It is the tutorial for the day, but it is not mine. I made it using the instuctions at this link.

So get your paper, glue, and scissors. Head over there and make a snowstorm of your own.

Have a wonderful day.