Card for Mum

I finished a Christmas card for my Mum. Hope she likes it!

It was made with a Sizzix Cut n Pop base. I found a really nice verse on the web. It was only my second time making a card like this and I like the way it turned out!

Christmas Projects

I did start on a couple of Christmas projects. I've been watching Britishcraftnetwork.tv. One of my favourite 'presenters' is Kay Rutter of Hougie Crafts. These are from one of her programs. I filled them with goodies for family/friends.

The boxes are really easy to make once you get the hang of them.  Kay makes it so easy to follow! The bottom stamp is a Penny Black stamp. The top is a stamp by Dyan Reaveley from the Christmas Words collection. Love them!

Absent again...bad news

I keep meaning to post on my blog but life got in the way again. Found out that my Mum has cancer. Been feeling down as I am so far away and there isn't a lot I can do to help. I'm worrying a lot, not sleeping but that doesn't help.  I feel so helpless not being able to give her a hug and support her. Skype just doesn't do it.

Crackers

Last week while I was looking around on the web I came across British craft Network and found a lovely woman Kay Rutter of Hougie Crafts. She was making Christmas Crackers. I've been looking for an easy way to make them for years. She made it sooo easy! The only problem I had was that, as I am in the states, A4 paper isn't the standard size paper. I cut down some 12 x 12 and made my own. I do own a little A4 stash so I used that too. Haven't decorated any of the crackers but I'm getting the hang of making them. I ordered some Bath and Body work minis to put inside and I think I'll do lottery tickets and maybe chocolates for guys.

Here are a few of the ones I made. She showed how to make circular ones, square ones and triangles! Really fun.

She also shows how to make the gift part larger or smaller. She also showed a Christmas Cracker card and envelope I'm going to give a try.

Back again

It's been too long.

I had an extra day off this week and got some crafting in. My DD is away at Uni. She's not too far away but she's busy with school and work and we're busy with work so we don't see one another as much as I would like. We chat and text quite a bit. She loves squirrels so I thought I'd make her a card to say hi. I pulled out my new Sizzix card design die.

 

 I'm going to write my sentient in the blank spot at the bottom.

Here's another card I did - a fun one.

Got caught in a downpour...

I ran errands most of the morning. I'm trying to find a dress for a wedding I am attending while in England. I'm not really a dress sort of person and trying to shop for one is horrible. So far I have bought two skirts, one pair of trousers, one dress, three shirts and a shrug. Still not sure what I'm wearing for the wedding lol.

I decided to take a walk in the afternoon just to relax. I grabbed my camera and headed to the nature preserve. I was meandering along on my way back when it absolutely fell down with rain. I got drenched. I was hurrying back to the car and almost there when I startled a deer and it startled me! We sort of both looked at one another. The deer stopped to eat and I stopped to take pictures. Rain be damned. The deer was worth getting wet - and dirty!

I had actually seen a couple more while I was walking around the lake but they weren't close up.

Card Making

I actually pulled out my card making supplies and made a couple of cards. I've got away from it in the last months. Seems like I can barely keep my head ahead above water with work and home. I really need to take some more me time. Part of the problem - I think - is that I don't have a specific place to craft so it means pulling everything out, getting started and then putting everything away again when I'm done.  Makes for a lot of sorting out and crafting minimal time and then putting things away again.

One day I will have that craft room!

A Little Whine...

I've started to walk almost every day at a beautiful preserve near to where I live. There is quite clearly a large sign telling people that all dogs must be on a leash to protect the dog, wildlife and vegetation, yet everyday I walk there are some people who let their dogs run around without a leash. I know it's nice to let them off once in a while but there is a time and a place.

The beautiful deer above is just one that I've seen around the preserve. It was really, really close to me and just stood there eating food while I took pictures.

Today while out walking I saw a female deer with her two babies. So pretty.

Happy Friday

I like Fridays - I don't have to work so it's always a good day lol. Usually I spend the day running errands, catching up with housework and all the fun things I don't get to do the rest of the week.

My foot has been driving me crazy this week - hurting a lot. I took a day off walking yesterday and got right back to it today. I've been walking in a place nearby. It's in the city. The place is called Asylum Lake as I guess that once-upon-a-time it was part of the Asylum for the Insane. It's a lovely place to walk. I've seen several deer as I've been out walking.

Today after my walk, I went back later in the day armed with my camera. I was lucky enough to catch a picture of a deer. I don't think it's the same one I've been seeing. The one I've seen while out on my power walks has been a doe with a couple of babies. This one looked to be alone. I got a picture - it wasn't great as the deer was across the lake on a small piece of land covered in reeds.

I also saw some kind of bird. Not up on the different kind of birds but this one was pretty big.

I like walking here. It's so peaceful even though it's in the city. There are a few people around each day - walking their dogs, jogging, walking or taking pictures. It's amazing that I've lived here this long and haven't even know it was here!!

Monday and Giraffes

Monday again.  It's hubby's birthday today so made baked chicken, stuffing, biscuits and corn.  Didn't feel much like cooking but thought I'd be nice.

Birthdays are SO expensive.  He wanted an Maxpedition Backpack.  Just about collapsed when I saw the price of them!  He hadn't left the name of the particular one he wanted.  I was cringing at the $150 one that I was looking at. Asked oldest son which one Dad wanted and he didn't know so I just asked hubby.  The one he was looking at was $231.  OUCH!!!!!  I had him put it in the 'basket' online and closed my eyes when I pressed the button.  Yikes.

With the cost of that and the usual 'birthday' things including car tax on two cars plus regular bills it's been a tough week.  I honestly can't wait for it to be over. 

I'm trying to think happy thoughts to keep me going so I thought of the giraffes daughter and I saw at the zoo.  They were funny things.  They were a lot of fun to feed.

Zoo Trip

When daughter came home last week we went to the zoo.  Haven't been for a long time.  I think the last time I went to a zoo was for a school trip with the kids.  It was a nice day out.  Because it was the 4th July I didn't think there would be a lot of people around.  I was wrong!  It was pretty busy.  The good thing was that daughter and I weren't the only adults there without children lol.

I really liked these cool looking frogs.  Not sure what kind they are.  Of course I didn't take note of the descriptions that were along side of them.  I really liked the Peacock too.  They have such beautiful colours in their tails.  They can really make a noise too!

Poor Brazil

World Cup Football

Germany absolutely thrashed Brazil 7-1.  Yikes.  It was almost painful to watch - five goals in 18 minutes.  Yikes. 

I got a tattoo!

My lovely daughter decided that we needed to have matching tattoos done when she came to visit this weekend.  I have been thinking of it for a while - just because.  She wanted a fairy.  We both looked and looked and finally came up with one that we could agree on.  She was the one who looked into different tattoo shops but I did check their hours lol (because of the holiday).  She made us an appointment for the 3rd so I couldn't chicken out.  I don't know what she thought but she made me go first.

The place we went to was Art and Soul in Portage.  I was impressed at how clean it was lol.  The guy we had - Luke - was great.  I had mine done on my leg - opposite the ankle where I had surgery and daughter had hers done on her arm.  As I am in my forties I wanted it done somewhere where I wouldn't sag lol (or wasn't already!).  It didn't hurt as much as I thought.  Because of the way my foot was positioned my bad ankle hurt worse than the tattoo lol as it was being pushed on. 

The worst thing is the aftercare - washing, patting dry and putting on lotion several times a day.  It stings a little afterward but nothing major.

Wednesday

Phew - almost through the end of the work week.  No short holiday week for me.  I work Sunday through Thursday most weeks so Friday and Saturday are my days off. 

I've been trying to walk every day - if not on the treadmill then outside at the Nature Preserve or small trail near us.  I like the peace, helps me unwind from a day at work. 

Not a lot extra goes on in the week.  I feel like I plod through workdays just trying to make it to the weekends and at the weekends I feel like I'm just trying to catch up from things I haven't done in the week lol.

Watched some World Cup this week - football is probably the only sport I watch.  Did watch the US game - what a goalkeeper!  He should have been on the winning time - the defeat would have been a lot worse without him.

I've included some more of our UP Michigan pictures.

These are pictures from part of the Lower Tahquamenon Falls.  Truly majestical - but bring your bug spray!!!

Another Long Time

I miss blogging, I do.  Time just seems to be flying by and when the work week hits I struggle with just getting the things done I 'have' to get done, not leaving a lot of 'me' time.  I guess it's something a lot of people struggle with.  I just don't seem to have the get up and go I used to have a few years ago - getting older lol.  I read other people's blogs and they always seem to be up to something.  In comparison my life seems a little dull and boring. 

Last week I did go on a mini-vacation with hubby.  We went up to the UP of Michigan to Munising.  Beautiful country up there and very peaceful.  I did take along my trusty camera too and took lots of snaps, so at least I'll have some pics to share for a while. 

We did some walking and looked at some views and waterfalls.  The treks made us both realise how out of shape we are.  We are hoping to walk more and perhaps get in shape to do some of the longer trails next year.  We have followed through on that since being home and did a walk in a nature preserve - now to keep it up!

I took pictures of scenes, waterfalls, uprooted trees and fungus - yes, fungus. 

Our first night we stopped at Mackinaw City, a nice little locally owned motel called American Boutique.  It was right on the waterfront by the lighthouse with a great view of Mackinaw Bridge.

Spring

It was beautiful outside today.  I actually went out in the garden and took a couple of pics.  I miss taking pictures.  I admit that I haven't done a lot of it over the winter.  There is a bird in our nest again.  This is the third year that a bird has made its home in the nest close to our house.  Last year I got some wonderful pictures of the baby birds.  This bird seems a little shy.  Every time I go our there to snap a picture it seems to take off!

I'm not good at kinds of birds not sure what kind this is.

Also got a nice close up of a bee landing on a dandelion.  The dandelions will all be gone tomorrow - at least for a few days - as oldest DS will be out mowing.

Long time no write

It's been a long time.  Just been in the dumps.  Am going to see if I can get moving again and start more crafting again.  Lately I seem to be acquiring new craft items rather than using them. 

Spring has finally sprung and things are looking up

:)

Weather Today

Welcome to Michigan!

We've had rain, snow, ice, sleet and now we're having thunder and lightning! 

Gorjuss update

My camera messed up and I couldn't find the picture I'd taken of my Gorjuss cross stitch designed.  Finally got around to pulling everything out and taking another.

I'm going to work on it this afternoon while I'm watching some Miranda.

It's been a crazy week at work this week.   I only worked four days but ended up working 9/10 hour days.  So much for the extra day off lol. 

Once a year we have an audit and ours happened to be last week.  So nervous and stressful.  Things went really well.  We got 95.45%.  Glad it's over!  Won't be another one this year.  That means no stress on vacation days or days off. 

On the weather front - any time it wants to warm up and stop snowing I'm more than ready.  I'm cold all the time.  I can't wait until I don't have to run out in the morning start the car up.  Sigh

So neglectful

I haven't posted for a while.  I think things are getting to me again.  Winter seems to be dragging on.  I hate moaning but it's been so cold and snowy and I have definitely had enough of getting up in the morning and seeing snow on my car.

I can't wait for Spring!

It's Groundhog's Day but apparently the groundhog saw his shadow so we're apparently in for six more weeks of winter.  Groan.

On the plus side I have been doing some baking today.  I made these lovely Peanut Butter Cupcakes.
 Yummy!

Last weekend I made from scratch Brownies, Cini-mini muffins and Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins.  Winter is a good excuse to bake (if you needed one!) - makes the house warm and smell really, really good.

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGG SNOW!

I know it's only January 4th but can I say I'm already tired of snow and winter?  I keep reminding myself that the days are getting longer, but I am so tired of cold and snow.  My hubby always tells me that we haven't had a 'real' winter in Michigan for a while, but I'm happy with that.  I don't know why I ever agreed to move here with all the snow and cold.

Daughter had come home for a couple weeks for the holidays and decided to head back to Uni today - good thing too.  Tomorrow we are under a Winter Storm Warning.  We took her off and she had to pick up a couple things at a well-known local grocery store as she hadn't been at her flat for a couple weeks.  OMG!  You would have thought the world was ending or it was Christmas!  The queues were ridiculous and some of the aisles were empty of food.  The meat department was almost stripped bare as was bread aisle. 

We took her out to eat and headed back  - just in time.  By the time we got back home the snow was coming down and the roads were beginning to get slippery.

Guess I'm cuddling under my blanket, watching Haven and having a beer!  Glad I don't have to work tomorrow. 

The above are a couple pictures I took after the Ice Storm a couple weeks back - snow pics will follow lol.