Crafty sweetness

I joined a swap that Karla and Beth are hosting. It involves a sweet treat recipe with a roses theme.
Now I have to go make 42 copies and send 'em out!

W is for

Washington StateLearn about Washington State here

Admission to statehood- November 11, 1889
42nd State

Christmas Eve Helicopters

The kids gave their Dad a palm sized rc helicopter for Christmas.
It's a fun little thing.
The cats even like it.

Merry Christmas!

Have a wonderful Christmas !

Christmas Fun

V is for

Volcano
Mt Baker in Northwest Washington
Mount Baker is an active volcano that I can see from my back yard.
We see what looks like puffs of smoke from time to time from the Mountain when it is venting.
I guess it's a vapor release or something.
It's a beautiful mountain that offers our area camping, hiking and skiing among other things.
*(added at 11:00pm) I was never nervous to live near the mountain( 30 miles from the base), however after the four comments I've received, I might be! :)

Going home

Tomorrow I get to finally take my Mom home. She's been in the convalescent home for too long now. She's so happy to be going back to all of her things and her own bed.She just had two more blood transfusions and they tend to make her feel good for about three or four weeks. We will enjoy the weeks to come.
Be well everyone and go hug someone!

U is for

UmbrellaMy umbrella gets me through many a wet morning waiting for the school bus.
See the wire? We've had so many windy days this season and my trusty umbrella hangs in there.

Me and my umbrella....strolling down the avenue...coo-chu-choo-coo-chu-choo.
Oh wait, that's me and my shadow.

Stay dry!

A gift and an icy pond

I participated in an ornament swap with some Glitter Sisters from Violette's group and this is the ornament that Sioux sent me.
I love crocheted anythings and especially snowflakes. If you notice in the background, my curtain has a similar design. :)
Thanks Sioux.

It has been very cold here and the pond has been frozen over for a week or more.
The ducks are hiding out, staying warm somewhere.

Below is my assistant, Scratch Fury.
While we were out a Bald Eagle was flying over keeping an eye on us.
I tried to get a picture, but it didn't work out...next time I'll get it.

We're expecting snow flurries for the next few days, so I hope you're all staying warm!

The funniest thing

Guess what brought a HUGE smile to my Mom's face today while I was visiting her at the convalescent home? A big push cart with bags and bags of Depends adult diapers on it. She "Wow look at what they have here!"
Cracked me up.

Fun times

A few weeks ago, my Mom signed me up to sell at her senior centers holiday craft fair. I made some things to sell and it was fun. It was fun for us to sit there together.
Below my daughter is laying out the necklaces. The young girl next to her in the blue came back throughout the day. She was selling jewelry she made herself.

My Aunt came up to visit from California and we had a great time with her, her son and my Uncle and his wife.
Below my Mom is telling a story...Mom's in the pink.

Mom's in a convalescent home tonight after a visit to the hospital last night. She has pre-leukemia...her bone marrow isn't making mature red blood cells. now her white cell count has dropped real low as well and her platelet count has been dropping by the thousands weekly. She's not doing so well, but she's still in a happy, good mood. Gotta love that about Mom.
She told me that the bed at the place she's in is real comfortable and she has a phone next to her bed, so she's good to go!
Well, have a great weekend one and all.

T is for

Thinking

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

Anne Frank

Think
Twins
Tired
Two Times
Terrible Twos
Took
Terrific Teenagers
I think that I am thinking too much lately about the past.
Two years ago I was pregnant with twins...another T word...and I miscarried them. I think if they were here I'd be an old tired Mom, but I'd be having two times the fun. They'd have been coming up to their terrible two's.
Well, I am no longer able to have babies, a surgery took that away, so I will just have to think of what it might have been like to have the two I lost and enjoy the two terrific teenagers I have and love more than words can say.
So today, think about all that you have around you and be oh so happy.
Thanks for visiting.

Pay it Forward

I saw this on Sophie's blog and I want to do it. I find that it is a wonderful idea. Here goes:

PAY IT FORWARD : handcrafted gifts :) I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Pay it forward exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. So basically, if you comment, I’ll send you something crafty that I’ll make! Once you sign up, copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be recipients of your handmade work.

Anyone interested?

S is for ...

SNOW
on the pond This picture is from November 2006.
We had so much snow last November and December.
The pond iced over enough to walk on it! Yikes!
We had some snow yesterday and expect some tomorrow night.
Snow...pretty to look at...not fun to drive in.
Have a great Wednesday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's hoping that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving today. I am making Turkey, Ham, potatoes, yams, cinnamon rolls, corn, brussel sprouts, rolls, stuffing, gravy and all that other stuff, so I'd better get started!
Enjoy your day!

Wednesday's R is for...

Reflections
on the pond(Scratch has his eye on a buck coming his way on the left)
The trees reflect beautifully on the water

The picture below is upside down.
Those trees are the reflection the post should be in the bottom right hand corner.
Reflections on a beautiful Autumn day.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Wednesdays

This seems to have become the Wednesday posting blog. Well, I am going to start regular posting once more.
I try not to post when life is stressful or full of woe and although I've had a lot going on and on my mind, I'm surprisingly not depressed. Isn't that good?
My mother has leukemia and after a trip to hospital and a stay in a convalescent home, she's good as well. Treatments aren't working as we had hoped, but it's only been three weeks. She gets a weekly shot at the oncologists and she's had three blood transfusions at the hospital, but no progress. Next step is chemotherapy. Time will tell.
The daughter has her daily struggles with OCD and she's a happy camper! I am so thrilled with that.
My husband has serious health problems...MS...bone loss...well, I will stop there.
Anyway, I need to create and enjoy myself, so I'll be back tomorrow...first we're off to the store.
Later taters.

Q is for

Q...worth ten points.Quaking Ducks
Crazy Quilts
Porcupine Quills
Quirky Quotes
Quiet blog pages with songs turned off :)
and
Quitting while I'm ahead!
Happy Q week to all!

P is for...

PONDHere are my boys out for a row on our pond...yes, it's in our backyard.
Cool isn't it.
It's full of life...ducks, frogs, fish, geese, heron and many birds. Brandts, eagles, crows...you name it. The property used to be a bird sanctuary and it still is in a way.
The boys were pollywog hunting. Don't worry, they put everything they caught back.
Top pick is the north side of the island/pond and bottom is south.
The pics are a little old. I would have taken new pics, but I forgot that this was Wednesday.

Happy boating!

Fool of myself...

My hairdresser has a shop upstairs at a flower shop and today while getting my haircut, Ryan Stiles from the Drew Carey Show, walked in. We watched him shop and had fun while giggling about it.
Then when I headed down the stairs to leave, there he was again.
I couldn't help but notice that he looked up at the Loft, so I touched his arm , turned , held his arm and told him that the hairdresser up there was Britt and that she was going to add him to their Myspace friends list. He said, "I'm not a computer whiz, I don't even know what that is." So i said "hey, Oh well" then turned and went back up the stairs and nearly threw up for being such a dork.
Britt laughed and laughed and said it was the haircut that gave me the "cahones' to talk to him, let alone grope his arm! Sheesh!
Well, that was fun.
Enjoy your day!

O is for

OPALSMy Mom, Opal.

Opals are so beautiful.
Here you'll learn about Opals and this picture.

N is for

NarcissusHere is a site on these beautiful bulbs and this photo.

M is for ...

Mallards

As I looked out the back window this morning I saw the ducks on the pond and I thought M!
As I headed off the porch they saw me and headed to the back of the pond.

Moss
The steps leading to the pond have lots of a feathery looking moss on them.

Have a great M week!

We have a winner!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
After a challenge by Dragonlady
I had a contest to win this little collage.

Drum roll please...

It looks like...

Miss KoolAid!

Congratulations Miss KoolAid and thanks to all who entered.
Just for entering, I have a little something fun for everyone who entered,
so I'll need some addresses please.
Thanks!

The drawing

You have until midnight Monday to make sure you comment and be entered into the Breast Cancer Awareness giveaway a few posts back.
I'll post the winner on Tuesday. :)
Good Luck.

Mermaids!

At Violettes message board, the Glitter sisters did a mermaid swap. Sioux sent me this fun ATC (above)
and the oh so cool Mermaid (below)
She has the best wavy hair in so many colors!

Below is the Mermaid that I made and sent to Nicci.
She's made out of polymer clay. I made a cane out of a cazillion colors for her tail and top. So much fun, but a lot of work.
She has huge lips doesn't she?!

Have a swimmingly great day!

L is for Light

We can see the light,
light a candle,
make light of something,
do some light reading,
there is the speed of light and light colors,
we can cook light and travel light,
we can dance by the light of the moon,
and if we are lucky
we can enjoy the Northern Lights

(internet picture)

October Breast Cancer Awareness giveaway

Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, Brenda on her Dragonlady page , challenged people to do a giveaway.
I've never done a giveaway, so here's my first.
Just leave me a comment and I will pick a winner next Monday.Above is the back and below is the front.

Good Luck!

K is for...

Kids
two to be exact.
The musician The photographer.

I'm very proud of these two and I can happily say that they love their mother...
and that works for me!
Give your kids a hug today and if no kids, give someone a hug!

Bloglandia Ball ...

My ride has arrived for the ball

Here is my dress for the ball...the Bloglandia Ball.

J is for ...

JewelryThe necklace above now belongs to my hairdresser/friend.
I love to make jewelry as gifts

and sell it to people who like it.

Jewelry...that's what makes me smile.
I don't wear it much though!
I've been making some to sell at a Holiday Craft Sale in November...
my Mom signed me up for it :)
It will be a fun day.
Happy Crafting!