Writers_Circle

May 3, 2013 - Things are happening!!!

2013-05-03T10:26:00.002-07:00

As my title says, things are happening around here.

For starters we just finished doing the Prom thing. Sammy wanted to go to Prom and so the event of getting everything she'd need for her night came to be. A big thankyou goes out to my sister. She took Sammy for the afternoon and went shopping. Sammy already had her dress, but needed more things to go with it. For instance, shoes, makeup, jewlery..... It sounded like they had a great time shopping. So here are some pictures of Sammy:

Samantha with her makup done.

Sammy's hair style back.

Sammy hair style left.

Sammy hair style right.

Sammy all dressed up ready to go.

Sammy at the school feeling nervous.

So Sammy really wanted to go to the prom. She was so excited that Chris made it possible to go to Cost Cutters in Cloquet to do her hair. They don't do "up do's" there, but because it was so special, they did her's for her. They were almost as excited to do her hair as Sammy was to go. So after leaving Cost Cutters, we flew home and quickly got her dress, makeup and what not all on and flew out the door to get her to the school on time. On the way there she kept asking me if it was too late to go home and forget all about prom. She was so nervous that she felt sick. She stayed that way till she was able to hook up with some friends that were going. Then she was fine and kicked me out. I was going to stay for the Grand March, but Sammy kicked me out and told me to go home.

She went to prom, and then the Post Prom afterwards. Sammy said that the Prom was boring, they played rap music a lot and how does one dance to that? She went stag and so it was boring for her. A friend of her's went with his date, but also payed for Sammy to go to Prom because as friends, they were all going to go together.......kinda.

Alex also went to the Post Prom and had a great time. He was so excited to be there, that when we picked them up the following morning, he was telling me that he learned how to play poker and ping pong. He said that it was fun and that he kinda wished that he would have went last year too.

So now we move onto Graduation. The kids graduate on May 26, 2013 at 2:00pm. They will be having their grad party following the ceremony. We will be having their party at my mom and dad's house from 4:30 - 8:00pm. They are kind to let us have it there. The kids really wanted their party there because, after all, that's where all the party's are held. So we have the cake ordered, food stuffs for the party, and we are getting a ton of help from my parents and my sister. Without all their help, we'd never pull this off.

The kids are looking for something to do between graduation and the time to move into the Dorms for College. They are to move in around (provided they pay the application fee in time) their birthday in August. Then they start college August 26th. They are going to Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Alex is going for either or both History and Environmental Sciences. Sammy is going to work on getting her AFA (Associate of Arts) degree. Both are going to concentrate on getting their general classes done first. It worked out though that they both get to start with one of their desired classes. Next year they will be able to take more of their chosen classes. Both are excited and scared to be away from home, but as I keep telling the kids, they are only 25 minutes or so away. So if they need me, I can get there.

On the personal side, mom and I have started working on another Round Robin Quilt. We just started them and I will have some pictures up as soon as I make some room on my camera card. Two years ago we did our first one. It was done as a square. This year we are doing a rectangle quilt. It definitely has its own challenges. Our starter blocks are wonderfully done. I'm really looking forward to working on this one. More to come on those as I can.

Till later.....

March 31st, 2013

2013-03-30T18:45:00.002-07:00

Well here is my Easter 2013 cake. It's a nesting chicken on straw with peeps and chocolate eggs around it. It turned out better then I even thought it might. I've been studying out different chicken cakes online and this one is a bunch of different chicken ideas all put together... Neat HUH????

January 27, 2013

2013-01-27T11:23:00.001-08:00

Well.... It seems that I haven't written anything in ages. I've been looking at my blog and am just amazed at all the things I've put up over time.

To catch up as best I can...

Today I made a new star quilt block to go with my star quilt. This time I made it smaller with the intentions of it going to the Album Quilt I've decided to make with all the single blocks from the block of the month collection I have. I've developed an issue with it however. This block is about 15" square. The other blocks are at 12" or very close to it. Now, I could go and trim it down to the 12" square size, but with the way the block comes together, you'd miss a lot of the points to the star around the outside edges. So I'm not sure what to do about it. I suppose I could go back through the entire block and make it smaller. By doing that, I'd be closer to the 12" size that I originally wanted. OR I could leave it as is, and take the other blocks and add a boarder to them to make 15". The trouble with that would be I don't have the same materials that makes up those blocks. What do you think I should do?????

I've started making another granny square bag for a Christmas gift. It's a light gray and royal blue. It will have a gray pillowcase for the liner. I ran into an issue here as well. I ran out of the royal blue yarn and will have run outta the light gray also by the time I'm almost finished with it. Of course I can go get more yarn in those colors, but do not have the funds to do it as of yet. Just takes time I guess.

So my next project is to do a quilt along. My mom has been making some and is really enjoying the learning process. I have plently of materials to do one as well. I'm just looking at my material for inspiration. The first quilt along I'm looking at is called "Simply Sweet" from the blog Quilts by Cheri. It's a really simple pattern and will look good as a single block for my album quilt.

I'm looking out my window at the surrounding area. It's so sad and depressing. The sky is white and gray, the ground is white and gray and everything looks cool and sad. I'm so looking forward to spring. I can hardly wait till I can open my windows and air out my house. It's one of the few things I really look forward to doing. Getting fresh air in the house, having the furnace shut down for the summer, being able to sit outside at night and not freeze.

Till next time......

New Projects - Cakes July 7, 2012

2012-07-07T19:45:00.001-07:00

Well for this project list, its not crafts but baking cakes that I've been dabbling in. They are have been big hits and very yummy.

Easter 2012 Bunny Cake

July 4th, 2012 Fire Works Cake

July 4th, 2012 Inside Fire Works Cake

July 7, 2012 Kit Kat Cake

Each of these cakes have been really easy to make. Learned some new tips after I was done making them. Each were received really well and didn't last long after the first slice was gone.

I look forward to experimenting with more cakes as I go.

April 8, 2012 - Easter Sunday

2012-04-08T17:42:00.000-07:00

Today was so much fun!!! Sarah hosted Easter Sunday at her house with her daughters.

We all arrived at Sarah and the girls house and her house was so pretty...

Sarah used her beautiful China. The little table was dressed with all the beverages. So Fancy!!

Samantha, Kim, Alex (missing was Chris. He had to work.)

Tianna, Sierra, and Sarah

Kim, Sarah, Randy (papa) and Lori (mom)

We all had the best time. The food was really amazing. Turkey, dressing, and much more....

We ate till we couldn't eat anymore. Everything was so delicious. We laughed and really enjoyed our time together....

Then it was time for the big Easter Egg Hunt. I got the honor of hiding all the eggs for the kids to find. There were 24 eggs, and the kids had to search everywhere to find them.....

Alex, Sammy, Sierra, Tianna...
Getting ready.... GO!!!!

Tianna, finds the first egg.

Alex, I see one!!!!

Alex, found another one... Sarah's dog Bear is in on the fun!

Tianna, around the cars..... Can you find it?

Alex and Bear, looking and looking...

Sammy and Sierra, maybe there is some over this way!!

Alex, ahh, found another. Sierra, You found another one??

Sierra looking in the wood pile, Sammy off to find more eggs....

Sammy, ok, mom said there is one over here.........

Sammy, I found it! What a good place to hide an egg!!!

Tianna, I found one!!!!

Tianna, counting how many eggs she found...

Sierra, I found the last egg!!! I'm number one!!!

Sierra, Sammy, Tianna, Alex with their found eggs....

Sierra, Sammy, Tianna, Alex with their winnings.
Sierra, sad that there isn't more to find...

After it was all done, we went back inside for dessert and more time to visit....

This was a first for me. I made this bunny to see if I could make it. I didn't have a form pan, just made the shape from scratch. I think it turned out really cool and everything thought it was good. Almost looks real on the pan doesn't it?

It was a really fun day and we had the best time. Thanks go out to Sarah for having us all over for Easter!!!

March 23, 2012 - Professional Domestic Engineer

2012-03-23T10:38:00.002-07:00

Ahhhhh. A Professional Domestic Engineer's job is never done.
One might question what that job entails, so I'll put it bluntly..... House Work. That's right, simple house work. Yesterday I got the cleaning bug, so I did all the laundry, made my bed, swept my kitchen and living room, put all my clothes away and thought about making dinner. It's really amazing how my clothes hamper throws a fit when there is nothing inside of it. That being said, as soon as the kids got home from school, I mentioned that I had their clothes sorted and in need of putting away. Then before I knew it, my clothes hamper was throwing a huge party inviting every kind of clothing from their domains to it. Needless to say it was another 3 loads of laundry.
For dinner last night, the kids wanted to have left overs from when Chris cooked. Normally I'm all for it, but I really wanted fried chicken. So to compromise, we had oven fried chicken, and the left over potatoes and cauliflower with cheese sauce. The kids were thrilled. It was pretty yummy and to top it off, there was even left over chicken for Chris when he got home.
Now to figure out what we are going to have tonight. Its a bit chilly, and damp so something hot and stick to your ribs is called for. Maybe I'll make tater tot hot dish. Its easy and a one pot meal. That will make the kids happy because there won't be a ton of dishes to wash.
So whats new.....
Well I've been very busy making Christmas presents. I've got 2 more gifts almost done. Just a bit of work left then they can be put away. The problem is that while I've been working on them, I come up with about a dozen other things I could be doing, but find that I'd rather work on my gifts then do anything else. Hence a movie comes into play. I've had to limit the amount of time I work on my gifts. I do that by movie count. It's kind of weird, but hey it works for me. I put some movie in, (Lately its been all Disney), and will work on my gifts till the movie is over. Then I will put in another movie in and see how many things I can get done with that movie. Needless to say, once you clean all the big things, its a bit harder coming up with enough things to do that aren't gift related till that movie is over.
In a future post, I'll put up pictures of my new floor in the living room. I say new because for the last 8 years or so, we've been living on a sub-floor. Now for a month, we've installed laminate flooring in the living room. It was pretty funny how that came about. Chris and I had been talking about doing the laminate flooring for a long time. Then one morning Chris walked across the sub-floor and got a big sliver in his heel. He then looks to me and growls that we are going to get the flooring RIGHT NOW!!! So we did. Of course it needs to sit in the house for 24-48 hours before installing, but it was home. So my thought of never getting a floor came to an end. It went from wishing we had a new floor, to wow we really have the boxes in the house, to I WANT THE FLOOR IN NOW!!!! Now that's its been in a month, I so love my floor!!!!! Now we are talking about getting the same type of flooring and doing our bedroom. I'll believe that when its in too. However, Chris is really looking forward to doing it. We've looked at the flooring now about 3 times and keep going back to the color and design we have in the living room, to be put in my room.
Sammy just told me that she will have more then enough classes at school to graduate. She only has 3 classes that she needs and the remaining 4 are all electives. She was told that she could do her classes in the mornings and then be home for the rest of the day. Sammy however said that she'd rather be in school just because then she would have to do something. Alex is the same with his classes. On Tuesday next week, we will be reviewing both their schedules and decide if the kids will have a full day at school, or come home after classes are done.
Chris just went to work. He told me that he is expected to have his yearly evaluation completed soon. He's looking forward to seeing how big his next pay raise will be. I am too.
Back to being a Professional Domestic Engineer again. I never realized that a clean house is unhappy. I love the little posts my friends on Face Book put up about how a messy house shows the signs of happiness. I'm finding it hard to want to be inside so much now. We've had some pretty decent weather and long to be outside. If I could just move my stuff outside, then they'd be the cleanest things in the world.

Till later...

January 15, 2012 - New Projects

2012-01-15T16:03:00.000-08:00

One day my mom sent me an email with a tote bag pattern made out of Granny Squares. The woman's tote bag was made with round centers and square blocks. I really didn't like that bag's design, and because I have a fondness for square Granny Squares, I made up a bag of my own....

So this got me thinking. At Christmas time, I had my family's gifts in plastic bags on my side of the room. I had a really narrow walkway from the end of the bed to my pillow. So I started thinking that if I made more of these bags, then they could be used as gift holders for my family. Then during the year, as I find gifts for my family, I could wrap them up and put them in these bags. Then for the family's gifts, instead of stressing out that 1) I have nothing to give, 2) I don't want to have their gifts on my side of the room, I could then give the bags filled with gifts to the family members. The handles for these bags are situated just right that they "hang" on hangers in the closet. Cool idea huh?

I've just completed another bag....

This bag is a bit smaller then the first one, but its still a great size. Inside is a pillowcase that I'm using as a liner. I then cut a strip to line the handle. I have to adjust the pillow case to each bag as that no two bags are the same size. For instance, this bag is 15 1/2" wide. A standard pillowcase is a bit wider. So I just cut off the pillowcase to the size I need and re-sew a new seam. Then for the handle, I cut a 4" wide strip from the same pillowcase, machine sew the Granny Square handle to the pillowcase, then sew the extra length of the pillowcase handle to the pillowcase bag "liner" and crochet the Granny Square ends of the handle to the Granny Square bag.
The purpose of the liner is that if you were to put something small (a pencil for instance) in the bag without the liner, the pencil or small item could work its way through the openings in the Granny Square bag. Having a liner there, prevents this from happening. It also gives the bags some strength/ sturdiness.

So what do you think of this idea? I think its pretty neat and another great gift idea for my family.

Till later...

January 5, 2012

2012-01-05T13:22:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Ok ok, so I've been a bit lazy when it comes to putting up new posts lately. I've been doing other things and just haven't gotten the ambition to write anything new for awhile.

Christmas was so much fun!!! We had everyone at our house this year. Of course when having family come over for the day, one starts the immediate sense of "Oh No, My House isn't clean!!!" So you start running around the house like a chicken with its head cut off finding things to clean in the hopes that once cleaned, will stay clean for ever!! In the real world, it doesn't work that way, so once again you find yourself cleaning the cleaned areas meanwhile forgetting that you have other areas that the family will be in that are in dire need of cleaning. Its enough to drive yourself crazy with. Or at least that how it worked out in my house. So then you get the brilliant idea to make a list of all the possible places that your family will be in and you "hire" your kids and spouse to work on those areas on the list. They too then get stressed out because they know that once their area is cleaned, that ultimately you yourself will go back and re-clean their cleaning. Finally you face the fact that your list of cleaning, is done and you sit back and relax only to realize that what you once thought was clean, is now the biggest mess you have ever had and you start getting upset at the dust bunnies, because they seem to be allergic to cleaned areas. Its a never ending cycle fighting those rotten dust bunnies. Does anyone ever win the fight you seem to find yourself in with those dratted dust bunnies? I don't think so.
So Christmas morning was coming on strong. Chris and I stayed up till about 2am in anticipation of our kids waking up and seeing all the gifts that had their names on them. It was going to be a great year for the kids. Finally, it was time for bed. Now, even though I am a grown up, I was just as excited as the kids for the morning to get here. Chris wakes me up at 5am to say that its time for presents. This is after not only going to bed at 2am, then talking till almost 4am, but now its 5am and we are wide awake. The kids are still sleeping, and so with us getting up for the day, Chris then goes and wakes the kids up. Sammy says that its too early, and Alex says, I don't wanna get up yet. Chris on the other hand wants everyone up and opening presents, because like little kids, he wants his presents right now!!!
So now we are all up and are just getting into our presents when the dust bunnies start dancing and falling from the ceiling fan. It looks as if there was dust bunny snow falling and that created another mess to clean up. The darn thing is, that I had dusted our ceiling, and the fan and yet, those darn dust bunnies decided that having a clean ceiling and fan was the wrong environment in which they live. So we then finish with opening our gifts and start the cleaning process all over again. Meanwhile Chris is in the kitchen getting our Christmas meal going. This in turn creates a million dishes, causing the kids to get all upset because its their job to do the dishes.
Finally after another run through the house, going over the cleaning list to make sure things are still cleaned, our family comes to the house.
We had so much fun!!

So as you can see by the pictures, Christmas was really fun. This Christmas I had decided that I was going to make it "Traditional and New." I had made quite a few presents, and there were a few store bought ones as well. Because this is what I had named Christmas this year, my kids decorated the tree with mostly home made/school made ornaments. I completely left it up to them.

We had lots of food too. Ham and scallop potatoes, a green salad, cake, cookies, punch and much more. We all ate till we couldn't eat anymore.

Thank you's go out to my family for having a Wonderful Christmas. I hope you think back on it often and have a smile. Love you guys!!!!

Twas the Night before Christmas

2011-12-24T11:41:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Christmas Story. Enjoy!!

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

November 21,2011 - Turkey Project -

2011-11-21T18:52:00.000-08:00

This is the turkey project I've been working on for quite some time. He is made out of plastic canvas, yarn, and a bit of fishing line.

I have been on the lookout for any turkey related items I can find and think I can make. This turkey pattern came from http://www.freepatterns.com/list.html?cat_id=8
My mom collects chickens and turkey things and when I saw this turkey, I thought he'd make a great addition to her collection.
This pattern was pretty easy to follow along with some minor adjustments. The pattern wants you to complete the body before putting the wings and legs, and the tail feathers on. I found that by leaving the closing of the body easier to attach the legs and wings as well as the tail feathers till the end, the attachment of the tail feathers especially, made this project much easier. This pattern also wanted you just glue the tail feathers to the body, I chose instead to attach them with clear fishing line and leave the stitches inside the body. Also instead of using a rock, or some sand in a plastic bag, I used 3 cups of kitty litter in a ziplock bag. Another difficulty I had was when stitching the tail feathers and the bottom of the turkey together, the plastic canvas would tend to shread if pulled real tight. other wise, by using the pattern and my own colors, it made for a more colorful turkey.

Today, mom picked me up and when to a spinning wheel group. There were a few (5) of us there. It was fun to get away from the house. There were three people spinning, one working on different projects and me working on finishing my turkey. The ladies in the group thought it was a pretty neat turkey. Thank you mom for taking me with you today and I really look forward to going to the next with you.

November 11, 2011 - Pizza Party -

2011-11-19T18:43:00.000-08:00

Today was our family's pizza party. This was planned for sometime and were really looking forward to getting together with everyone that could attend. Here are the photos from those that were able to come:

Papa

Kim

Sammy

Sarah

Mom

Alex

Chris

Maxine

Yesterday, I was trying to make a pumpkin spice cake in a bundt pan. The idea was to make two cakes, then when cooled put it on top of the first with the bottom sides together. Then I was going to make up a really nice frosting in orange and a little batch in dark orange, and another batch in green. I've been planning out this cake for some time and new that I would get it to work. After talking with my mom, I decided to instead make just one pumpkin spice cake and decorate it as I was going to do originally. So I made the cake. Normally I don't have any issues with the cake setting up. This one decided to be a problem. I had the oven temp. right, and the cake filled the bundt pan 3/4" as it needed to be and cooked it like it was supposed to be. The outside was done, but the inner was about jelly thickness. So I put it back in the oven for another 20 minutes. It didn't do anything but burnt the outside edge of the cake. It just decided that it wasn't going to work for me. So then I decided that instead I'd just make bars.

In the meantime, I made some bread sticks and wanted Chris to make some dipping sauce. They turned out really good. Soft, a bit heavy on the garlic and parsley, but they sure looked good.

This morning, Chris was making the things he needed for his pizza's. It smelled so good in my house. So then I made up the pumpkin spice bars in a cake pan. At first it wasn't going to work out either, so Chris put it in the oven for another 20 minutes and it was perfect. I then whipped up some plain white cream cheese frosting to cover them. My house smelled like a combination of a pizza place and a bakery.

We got over to moms and just had so much fun!!! We laughed, talked, and just had a great time hanging out together. Then Sarah and Maxine (sister and niece) were able to come and the fun just increased. It was just so much fun to hang out together. It was then time to bake the pizzas and get ready to sit down and eat. Chris's pizza was a big hit. We had that, salad, bread sticks, cookies, bars, pumpkin bread, a snack mix, apple crisp and punch. It was so good and everyone just got stuffed. After we all eaten our fill, then we continued to visit and hang out. We laughed so much from the different stories that were told. Family time was so relaxing.

November 10, 2011 First Day of Snow

2011-11-10T05:18:00.000-08:00

It's now 6:30am and while I took my dogs outside to do their business, I snapped these pictures of our first day of snow. The dogs forgot what they were supposed to be doing and instead were playing in the snow.
We received about an inch of snow all over and its pretty.

November 9, 2011 First Snow flurries of the season

2011-11-10T05:05:00.000-08:00

It's 10:30pm and its just now starting to snow enough where you can see it. Wonder how much snow there will be. Looking forward to tomorrow morning to find out....

November 8, 2011 - Home style Christmas

2011-11-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

So for Christmas this year, I have decided that I was going to see just how many Christmas presents I could make with the things I currently have. Way back in January, before I started the Round Robin Quilts, I had started making Christmas gifts. Then I was so busy working on the quilts that I didn't get back to making more Christmas gifts. So yesterday I went through my room and found all the gifts I had made and figured out to whom they were going to. I was pretty amazed!!! I had made 11 different gifts. I didn't realize that there were so many, so it was really neat to see everything I've made before wrapping them up.

I've decided that one of my biggest struggles is to NOT give them to the people before Christmas. When asked what they are, or what colors, or what do they look like, I struggle with trying to give clues that have nothing to do with the items. It's kinda funny and so when Christmas does come, I hope that each gift will be really liked.

I've been thinking that after I am able to give the gifts, that I plan on making more of each and selling them online. I guess I'm waiting for Christmas time first to see if the people that receive them will like them first. I figure that if they like them, then maybe others will too.

Maybe If someone other then my family responds to this post, I'll give one away. That being said, it makes it really hard to know what that person(s) getting if I don't put any pictures of the items up first. The reason is pretty obvious because they are Christmas gifts to my family. So of course, if I added pictures to this blog or on Facebook, then my family would see what they were getting. Which of course would take away the present.

Till later.....

October 20, 2011 Can You Say OOOOOPPPPPSSSSSS?????

2011-10-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

Well what a way to start off the day..... No Water!!!

I was watching tv when I heard a gurgling sound coming from my washing machine and the hot water heater. Chris went to the bathroom and yelled, " This isn't good. We have no water!!!!" So I then looked out the windows to where the main shut off to the trailer park is and there wasn't anyone there. So Chris told me to call the city hall and see what they knew about it. (Dave, our landlord lives in Crystal Bay and as such would be no help.) I called and when I got through, was informed that there was a main water main break and instead of just shutting off the water for the block affect, there was MANY people without water. So I called my mom and told her what was happening. She said that we could go to her house to take our showers. (Chris had to get ready for work and with no water, makes it a bit hard to shower.) So we loaded up and went there. THANK YOU MOMMY!!!!
So after we left my mom's house, we saw a lot of water damage. Here are some pictures that Sammy took....

September 17, 2011 - Done at Last!!!

2011-09-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

Well what a day.
OK so my last post left off with us having to wait to mid-week for my chimney to be done. So after Chris left, then the guy that was working on the chimney left I put myself down for a nap. At 3:00pm, the guy called me and said that he has the part and wanted to know if I wanted him to come back today or to wait. I told him that I wanted heat. So he said he'd come and finish it. Around 4pm, the guy came and went to work. He was done around 5-ish and so I then asked him to wait for a full cycle from the furnace to make sure all was working good. He said he would. The furnace worked, but was blowing some cool air into the house. Next thing I knew it was over 80 degrees in the house and we were all sweaty.
I told the guy that I only had the amount of money he said it was going to be for the other part, and that if I took his truck a moment, I could get the rest. Of course he wouldn't let me, so on Monday, I'll have to go to the bank and get a money order for the remainder of the cost. He said that was fine and gave me the address so that I could send it out to him.

It's done and the house is so warm that its hot in here....

YYIIPPEE!!!!

Till later....

September 17, 2011 - Continued Woes...

2011-09-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

Well drat!!!

As our woes continue, the furnace chimney has yet to be replaced. The guy came and after removing the rusted out part from the furnace tried to install the new part. Unfortunately the part he brought was 2" to short. So now we wait for his company to get the correct part and for him to come back and install it. Of course, a longer part is going to cost me an additional $25.00 bringing the completed job to cost me $400.00. When they guy left, he not only took his part that he brought, but also took the top part that Chris had installed earlier. So instead we have hole in the roof from where the chimney was covered by some vinyl and a board to hold the vinyl down till about midweek. Yes we are very disappointed that we have to wait, but when its done, will be done right and my furnace should work properly.

Some of you reading this will ask why we are putting up with this, and other's would say that they'd go to someone else. I can tell you if you've read my last post, you understand why we are having the guy from the housing company we bought our house from, doing it. He has been with the company for many years and is a great guy. He knows what he's doing, and not only that, because of all the people I did talk to, he would complete the project with the least amount of cost to me.

While the guy was us there, he assessed our shingles on the roof. He said that they were very brittle and really needed to be replaced. We've never had our roof redone so it is about time. I think that is going to be our next spring/summer project.

Well that's the update to my woes...
Till Later....

September 16, 2011 - Woe to us AGAIN!!

2011-09-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

Well its another cold spell and we are having problems with our furnace AGAIN!!!!.
On Wednesday, Sept 14, 2011 in the evening, I had Sammy turn on the furnace. The furnace worked kinda one time and then didn't work right. I reset the furnace and it ran 3 times but still was not working correctly. Earlier this summer Chris replaced the upper section of our chimney with one that was brand new. After taking off the old upper part, he found out the the inner wall of the lower part was rusted completely through. Chris put on the newer upper part anyway and we've left it as that. Now that its been getting colder overnight and into the morning we have once again been using my stove to heat the house up to a comfortable level.

Today I was able to pay my gas bill and put in a request for our furnace to be look at again. Shane (he's the one we really like!!!) came over and the first words outta his mouth were: "What ya break this time....lol" We told him that we replaced the top section of the chimney but the lower inner section was rusted out. After looking it all over, he said that we really need to get that fixed, otherwise there could be some major damage to the heat exchange which would involve getting a new furnace. That wouldn't be so bad to do anyway and it wouldn't cost me anything. We upgraded our service plan to include a better "fix or replace" it plan. So if it came to the time that we had to have a new furnace, it wouldn't cost me anything. COOL!!!!!!

I then called the company that we got our house from and talked to their guy that works on their houses. After doing some measurements over the phone, he is going to look and see if he has what is needed in stock and give me a price. I hope that he does have what he needs and can come and fix it soon. So now we wait to hear back from him.....

Hopefully this won't be to expensive and can be done quickly as I hate to be cold. I don't mind being chilly cause I can always dress warmer, but being cold isn't so easy.

Well till later.......

September 2, 2011 - Shopping Marathon

2011-09-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

Well the kids and I are officially done with school shopping!!! YIPPEE!!!!!

Most of the time, we get just enough things to get us started and buy what we need as we go along. It all adds us quickly. This year with some major help from my sister with shirts for the kids, we didn't have to buy a lot of things this time. The kids, Chris and I went through all of our "Inventory" of school supplies that we have gotten the previous years. Like when it comes to notebooks, instead of buying one for every class, it was just easier to buy an entire case (24) notebooks. Pencils, pens, markers (Sharpies and Highlighters) were all bought in bulk in prior years. Same with pocket folders, buy in bulk and have more of them later. So anyway after going through all our inventory, we wrote on my white board things we needed to get. We then go through all the kid's clothes and decide what needs to go and what do we need to replace. My sister has given the kids about 20 shirts that are almost brand new from her shopping sprees. So we didn't need to buy any shirts this time.

Inventory of school supplies? Check
Inventory of school clothes? Check
Made up list of things to get for this year? Check

So this morning we set off on our shopping spree. Knowing that I didn't have much money to work with, it was time to really pay attention to prices. First stop Wal-Mart. Composition notebooks $.40 (The kids didn't want spiral notebooks this year due to having to rip out pages) Kid's clothes....To much! We ended up getting just about everything we needed at Wal-mart. We then headed to my sister's for a visit and came home with about a dozen more shirts and stuffs. Then off to my mom and dad's for a short visit. Then off to ALCO in Moose Lake. Here we found paper dual pocket folders and jeans for the kids. Sammy is so much easier to get pants for. They always have her size. Alex on the other hand is really hard to find pants for. Luckily ALCO usually carries his size. Why can't other stores sell jeans in a 29X34????? Do they think that people only come in big and bigger and not tall and skinny???

Finally got to come home. I've been sitting in my chair just shaking my head at what we got done today. This is the first year that I can remember getting EVERYTHING we needed for the start of the school year instead of getting just enough to get buy. Thank goodness 11th graders don't have a huge school list. Just the basics.

Well now its time to take a nap, then I have to leave and get Chris home from work in a few hours.

Till later......

August 26, 2011

2011-08-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

Today was a very hard emotional day for me. I have been spending a lot of time thinking of my Grandpa and wondering what his words of wisdom would of been for me. Most times it's stories that I've heard all my life, and wouldn't miss the chance to hear them again. Now of course, I'll just have to remember them on my own.

Yesterday I was playing games on Facebook thinking that the games I usually play are getting kinda boring to me. Some of them I've played for several years now. Sure I have all the buildings and almost all the collections completed and waiting to turn in, but as I play these games every day, my mind has been drifting off to other places. Like what and for whom is a certain Christmas present going to be given. At one point I even got off the computer and was thinking that I'd like to take a nap. So as I put my computer away, my phone rang and it was my mom saying that it was time. You see, at one point my papa asked me if I wanted some of Grandpa's things from his house. I said yes of course, but only if he wanted me to have them and when. There is enough fighting and snide comments being made from my relatives that I didn't want to have any pressure on my papa nor my mom to feel like I was making demands. So anyway, mom called and said it was time. So we went over to my mom and papa's, and then up to Grandpa's house.

Grandpa's house is little but as a small kid, I always thought it was so big. Once inside we started collecting things that would come to my house. I felt like I was going to get into trouble from Grandpa, you know....."What the Sam Well's going on?" and more. I asked my papa if he felt the same way being in there when Grandpa wasn't. Papa said, " yeah, its kinda weird..." For the first time in my life I felt really strange in Grandpa's house. I can't really describe it, but as we were taking things from Grandpa's house to have come move into mine, I kinda felt like I was "Poking my nose into things that I aunt not have..." I guess I was just waiting for the reprimand that didn't come.

After loading up what was now going to come to my house to "live," we brought it all home. We set everything out in the yard for cleaning and sorting. My neighbor came home and said, well, now my yard looks just like theirs..... BAHHHH!!!! We were just about done with the cleaning and sorting out when I sat down on one of Grandpa's kitchen chairs and just started to cry and bawl. I couldn't help it and had even a harder time stopping. I guess I felt like a thief in the night with Grandpa's things around me. I just knew that if he was to come home to his house and see his stuff missing and knew I had it, I'd get that willow switch yet. All I could do was cry. I told Grandpa that I was feeling just awful and excited that I was given his things. Awful cause they weren't in his house where they should be and excited because I needed them for my family. I think Grandpa would like the idea that his things would be cared for and used. Now I just wonder how my papa will feel when he comes to my house and sees Grandpa's things here.

Till later.........

August 18, 2011

2011-08-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

Well some really sad news to tell... On August 16th, 2011 I lost my grandfather. He was 91 years old and very important to me.

Grandpa Don Denton

Grandpa was one of the most important teachers I've ever had. He taught me to be patient, to love, to understand, and not to rush into things. "Sometimes things just work themselves out whether you want them to or not. Don't fight it. Don't rush into anything. Its better to take things slow and right the first time instead of rushing and having to do it all again...."
I've tried to take his teachings and use them in everyday life. I learned that having patience and understanding are the best tools a person can have. When I was younger, I wanted to rush through mowing a yard at home. Grandpa came up to me and told me to just stick to the sides of the mowed grass and not worry about the ends. I tried to go against that, and in the end he was right. My mowing of the yard was all over the place and I ended up having to re-mow the parts I missed.
Grandpa had a way with him that sometimes left me angry. But in the end, if I'd done things his way, it would have all worked out. I guess I wasn't ready to be an adult yet.

Grandpa was always kind to me. Even when I would spend time with him and be angry from something that happened earlier in the day, by the time grandpa had me tell him what was on my mind, grandpa would say, "Now that your not full of hot air anymore, what do you think you need to do to fix it?" After I would come up with ways I thought would fix things, grandpa would say in his quiet way, "Will that do? What other things can you think of that would be better?"

I'm really going to miss him and his words of wisdom. Sometimes his words of wisdom had nothing to do with what we were talking about, but by the end of our chat, things always worked their way out, even in ways that I didn't expect.

Thank you grandpa. Thank you for you as you. Thank you for your wisdom and laughs. I'll miss you terribly.
I love you grandpa. Say hi to grandma for me...

July 9th, 2011 - Birds and more birds

2011-07-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought I had pictures of everyone in my garden, I was able to get these pictures too.

Common Grackle

A pair of Northern Flickers

Pair of common Grackles

House Finch

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

July 8th, 2011 - More birds!

2011-07-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

This little American Robin baby is just a few weeks old. It landed on my porch table and was calling for its mother. I actually got to rub its breast for a few seconds. The mother was NOT amused.

American Robin (Baby)

American Robin (Adult)
This was the mother that was NOT amused to see me close to its baby.

House Finch

This House Finch was talking and convinced me to take it's picture. Pretty neat to have so many birds in my yard at one time....

July 7th, 2011 - Afternoon guests

2011-07-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

Here are some new pictures from the afternoon. They aren't as clear as my other pictures, but you can still see them fairly well. Enjoy!

Purple Finch

Chipping Sparrow

Purple Finch taking a sun bath

July 7th, 2011 - Afternoon guests

2011-07-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

This is Mr. and Mrs. American Gold Finch. I don't think they are from the same couple as there are at least six different couples at my feeders regularly.

This little one is a Black - Capped Chickadee

Mr. and Mrs. House Finch.

Red - Breasted NutHatch

Western Blue-Bird

As I've said before, I've seen many new birds this summer then before. I was thinking that this is like my own treasure hunt. Find the bird then rush inside to find it one one of my three bird books. The hunt goes on.......

Writers_Circle

May 3, 2013 - Things are happening!!!

March 31st, 2013

January 27, 2013

New Projects - Cakes July 7, 2012

April 8, 2012 - Easter Sunday

March 23, 2012 - Professional Domestic Engineer

January 15, 2012 - New Projects

January 5, 2012

Twas the Night before Christmas

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Clement Clarke Mooreor Henry Livingston

November 21,2011 - Turkey Project -

November 11, 2011 - Pizza Party -

November 10, 2011 First Day of Snow

November 9, 2011 First Snow flurries of the season

November 8, 2011 - Home style Christmas

October 20, 2011 Can You Say OOOOOPPPPPSSSSSS?????

September 17, 2011 - Done at Last!!!

September 17, 2011 - Continued Woes...

September 16, 2011 - Woe to us AGAIN!!

September 2, 2011 - Shopping Marathon

August 26, 2011

August 18, 2011

July 9th, 2011 - Birds and more birds

July 8th, 2011 - More birds!

July 7th, 2011 - Afternoon guests

July 7th, 2011 - Afternoon guests

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston