2018



Heart On A Rock

Another journey to the creek. Another rock.

I know. I love rocks and I can't help looking for ones with special markings.

This one caught my eye. As you can see it is quite small. How did I even see it?

And there you see, is why they are special to me. I always feel these things are pointed out to me for some reason. My Dad always use to love to go rock hunting with me.

So I feel like this is a message from him.

I miss him so much.

 

Thursday Thoughts

Time is ticking away. It is already Thursday.

Seems like the month flew by.

 

 

I am looking forward to Spring now.

 

And blooms in the garden when I look out the window.

 

It is time for me to make a new folder for pictures in 2018.

Do you do that? I have my photos in folders according to the year.

The above ones were from last Summer.

Soon a new year will begin and a long with that a new folder to log in the memories and pictures.

2017 was a great year for flowers that is for sure. I had an abundance of blooms through out the season. I hope 2018 brings more blooms to enjoy for us all!



 



Shadows

I love the shadows a lamp casts.

This one is on the hearth.

 

I don't have a fancy hearth like most people. Just a plain simple brick one with a woodstove not a fireplace. Very efficient for our house. 

I do love to look at everyone's all decorated up for the seasons.

So pretty and inspiring.

I do need inspiration from time to time that's for sure.(-:

One year I did wrap all the pictures on my hearth in Christmas papers. It was quite festive. I have never done that since though. It was to much work and the kids thought it was weird.

They didn't have any sense of decorating back then.(-: It gets really hot around the woodstove and the pipe goes up through the space, so it isn't a good idea to get to much flammable stuff around it.

At least that is what I tell myself when it comes to decorating around it. (-:

Anyhow, the year is winding down. Do you have any big plans for the coming weekend?

None here. Watch T.V. and go to sleep around 9. I figure once it is 9 O'clock here, it is a New Year on the East coast, so that is it for me. (-:  I am looking forward to a new year though.

Enjoy your Wednesday!



The Princess

Santa brought her  a battery powered ATV to my house.

He made a stop at her house too.

 

She also got some silly glasses

 

And to much stuff to list.

She is a lucky kid with a very blessed Grandma(-:

Great day and now ready to get the house back to normal. (-:

Tomorrow!

 



Merry Christmas Sourdough

Baked some bread this morning for dinner today.

Hope you all enjoy your day whatever that may be!

Merry Christmas!!!



Merry Christmas Eve

 

The day has arrived.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas Eve.

May the day go smoothly and your evening be filled with joy that fills your home.

Blessings and peace.



Happy Day Before...The Day Before...Christmas

When all through the house...

But oh my,

Outside!

Whispers in the night!

Creatures!

 Big and small.

Fur shining bright...

Raccoons munching,

A skunk crunching...

Coyotes yelping...

And the,

Hooting of the Great Horned Owls.

The dark can be pretty loud.

Sleep?

2AM,

3AM,

4AM,

5

Up on the roof top...

What's that I hear?

Could it be Santa bringing me some cheer?

Um no...it is just wishful thinking.

Time to rise and shine.

Let's get this party started.

3,

2,

1

Go!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Checking For Snow

Yup there it is. Way up the highway to Mt. Shasta.

It was pretty and it seemed more like Christmas with snow.

But, it was cold so I hurried home.

 

Lunch was good.

 

Shopped at the local crystal shops. That is a big thing up on the mountain.

I am not kidding when I say they are all into these crystals. This one wasn't even the most expensive. There was a 40+ thousand dollar one and one they would not even give a price for. They said they were taking bids. It was at least two feet in diameter. Of course there were small ones too. One about 2 1/4 inch was 60 dollars. They had marble sized ones for 7.00. Every color and all that too. Lots of different types of crystals and other stones. It was all quite interesting, but I was glad to get back on the freeway headed south.(-:

So only two days to go until Santa drops by with all those toys for little boys and girls.

Hope you are doing well.

 

Bloomin' Violets

At least there are violets blooming in the house during the dark days of winter.

I have a lot that have not opened their blooms.

Here are a few that have. (-:

 

Hope you have a happy day!!!!



Happy First Day of Winter

For the occasion I baked a couple loaves of sourdough.

I can't wait for Spring obviously, but I am enjoying the baking season!

This week is going fast. Soon Christmas will be over and all packed away for next year. We will all be looking at a brand new year.

We can do this!

No matter how hard the holidays are, you can get through them.

It is almost over.

Missing ones you love is the worst during the Holidays.

There is a void that can not be filled.

I understand this feeling.

The way I deal with it is to keep busy.

Do something nice for someone else.

Bake something!

You got this!

Take care and stay warm my friend.

 



Base For Salt Lamp Finished

 

 

 

Vintage lamp base removed, modified and painted. Removed wooded base that came on salt lamp.

Now it has a vintage look.(-:

Works better for me.

 

Before:

After:

 

 

Close up of base

 

 

I predict a shortage of old lamps at the Salvation Army. LOL

Hurry and get one while you can.(-:

I actually am going to check around for another one for some other lighted balls I have. I have seen different sizes on different lamps. They are pretty cheap. I got that one for 5 dollars. Old kerosene lamps also have old metal  bases.

Enjoy your day! Only 5 more till Santa arrives.(-:

Today's Sourdough

Whoops let it bake a tad bit to long. Was busy doing something else. Oh well. It is the taste that matters right? I will find out how that is in a bit when it cools down.

Next time will keep a better watch on it(-:
Although some people like their bread baked darker. I don't though.
We use ours for toast so it gets darker in the toaster.
Chicken, skunk and raccoon food you think?

Maybe I will make some more tomorrow(-:

It is a two day process so baking will be on Thursday.

Stay tuned for the next batch. Hopefully it is better looking.

I did have the timer set...it just baked faster then normal this time. I swear the sourdough bread has a mind of it's own. Doesn't matter what I do it turns out different every time.

Bread from couple weeks ago

Yup that was the same recipe, same process, same bake time...hmmmm lol

It was o.k. tasting though.  Sourdough is like a science experiment each time.(-:

I might be failing if I was taking the class. Oh well.

Hope you have a wonderful day!!!

 

 



A Salt Ball

No it is not a salt lick for cows. Although, who knows maybe that would work just as well?

 

I am trying one of those Himalayan salt balls that light up for all those wonderful benefits they list on the box they come in. My Brother and SIL swear they are the ticket.

We shall find out.

I had to modify the stand because I wanted a different stand for it instead of the basic wood one.

So off to Salvation Army to look for an old lamp to disassemble. Found a perfect one and removed the bottom and have a bit of work to do on that before it will be a perfect fit.

But...it will be so cool. A vintage bottom will add a lot to the basic salt lamp.

I picked out the round ball shape because I think it looks more peaceful. The chopped piece of salt wasn't doing anything for me.

Here they are at the store...

 

This is the one I chose. Doesn't it look like a full moon?

I thought so too. So relaxing and inviting. I love a full moon.

This thing is already warming my heart(-:

 

The after picture will be tomorrow.(-:

Enjoy your evening!

 

 



Froggy Makeover

I have had this froggy for about 27 years at least. It is much older. It had a clock inside, but that broke years ago. I took it out and thought I would use for something else. One eye was missing so I ordered two new  Swarovski stones. I had to drill out the eye holes to make them fit, but it worked perfectly.

So without further ado here is my new/old froggy.

Before:

 

 

After

 



Angel Snowmen Ornaments

With deep sadness I must report that Fabio was a victim of a homicide.

We think it was probably a coyote, but all that was left was a few feathers.

So since I do what I do with left over things, I decided to make something in his honor.

 

I had the help of the Princess cutting out circles of salt dough and helping me paint them white, after we baked them.

I added the finishing touches. Sanding, painting faces, Fabios feathers, little hats, mittens and boots made of Sculpey clay, some vintage rhinestones, a hanger to hang them with and even some of my Grandmothers blush.

Finally, I added a sprinkle or two of glass glitter. It took me forever to finish them, but here they are. I sure will miss Fabio. He was a great roo.



Fun Day

Took the Princess to ride on the elephant ride at the mall and then to Chuck E Cheese.

She loves that elephant. She rode on it a week ago when we went to see Santa.

We had a fun day. Wore her out and she slept for 3 hours. LOL

Then my daughter says that was the shirt she slept in. I said what? I asked my Granddaughter where she got her nice tie dyed shirt and she said her Nana gave it to her. So I thought well that is what she is wearing today must be good to go...LOL

Oh well. She had fun and that is all that matters I guess. I had told my daughter the day before we had a day planned. Guess she didn't hear me. I have tons of clothes, but I thought that is what she wanted her to wear. The leggings I got her though. They have unicorns on them.

So take that into consideration when viewing pictures.

 

 

The mall was still in downer mode though. No happy Christmas Cheer there. I guess they are not into being cheery this year.

Well on to another wonderful day with the Princess...Enjoy your day!



The Princess Turns 4

We had her party on Sunday at a local pizza parlor. She had a great time.

It is so hard to believe the Princess was born four years ago today.

What a whirlwind of a time that was.

She was just under 5 pounds when she was born 6 weeks early.

It was such a scary time. We were not sure what was going to happen. The Princess insisted on being born that night though, and so it was.

 She stayed in the hospital 2 weeks and went home the day after Christmas.

That was the hardest part, leaving her at the hospital and going home each day. We could only go at feeding times since she was in NICU. That was so hard. So glad everything worked out and that chapter is in the past.

And now this girl is growing and healthy and 4 years old.

 

Happy Birthday Princess!!!!





Reflection

Even though it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, I am looking forward to Spring.

In just a few more days the days will begin to get longer. I am so looking forward to that.

Now to just get through the next few weeks...

Happy Monday...it is almost over...(-: