tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6905695202423016732024-03-12T17:58:16.653-07:00The Land of Liquid SunshineA blog about Melissa Jenkins, her art, her family, her life, and randomness!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-38783009018308511512011-04-15T10:46:00.001-07:002011-04-15T10:46:18.562-07:00Changing Focus<p>I know it has been a while since I’ve written here. I think I’ve lost track of what I wanted to do with blogs, and I have tried to write about things that aren’t necessarily what I would really like to share with everyone, namely family life and what we’re up to.</p> <p>So, after some time spent away in the year since dad passed, I am going to move my focus back to our <a href="http://thejenkinsfamilyjournal.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">original family blog</a>. You’re welcome to follow if you wish. :-)</p> <p>-Melissa</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-29780593853137836232010-12-30T16:21:00.001-08:002010-12-30T16:21:36.926-08:00More Blog Candy & A Game Tin Craft<p align="center">One of my <a href="http://meljensdesignsdt.blogspot.com" target="_blank">design team</a> ladies had <a href="http://taylordconcepts.blogspot.com/2010/12/most-wonderful-time-of-year.html" target="_blank">this candy</a> shared on her blog…I couldn’t believe how massive it was. If I win, I am planning on sharing it all with my kiddos…especially Brooke, she loves to craft. :-)</p> <p align="center"><em>This is just one picture of the candy, you really need to check out the blog to <a href="http://taylordconcepts.blogspot.com/2010/12/most-wonderful-time-of-year.html" target="_blank">see it all!</a></em></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://taylordconcepts.blogspot.com/2010/12/most-wonderful-time-of-year.html" target="_blank"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="blog candy" border="0" alt="blog candy" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TR0iDiPLAEI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/MzdtcJxj1TU/blogcandy%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /></a> </p> <p align="center">AND…</p> <p align="center">I ran across a very creative site called <a href="http://dabbled.org" target="_blank">Dabbled.org</a>. This <a href="http://dabbled.org/2009/12/the-little-game-box.html" target="_blank">game box tin idea</a> is so cute. I think I will make one for the kids – but maybe with my little stamp characters instead. I haven’t decided yet!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://dabbled.org/2009/12/the-little-game-box.html" target="_blank"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Littlegameboxtop-350x207" border="0" alt="Littlegameboxtop-350x207" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TR0iEI5LGQI/AAAAAAAAD8c/q9Yfjh_daKU/Littlegameboxtop-350x207%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="196" /></a>  <br /><em>(<a href="http://dabbled.org/2009/12/the-little-game-box.html" target="_blank">Visit the site</a> to read more about the craft!)</em></p> <p align="center">I have a little tin with Prima flowers that I bought from Etsy a little while back. I think I’ll use that. The flowers will be safe elsewhere! *wink*</p> <p align="center">I’ll share pictures if/when I start working on it!</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-43356010901759928752010-12-28T12:08:00.001-08:002010-12-28T12:08:20.414-08:00Exploding Box (finished)<p align="center">This is the exploding box I worked on. I have another mostly finished…was supposed to complete a few more, but I have been severely behind.</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11065" border="0" alt="SDC11065" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRpDrG2pbqI/AAAAAAAAD70/mFfL3kScmR4/SDC11065%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /> </p> <p align="center">I gave this to Grandma and Grandpa Smith on Sunday. Grandma cried when she opened it. The tag on the lid says ‘I Love You This Much’ and I told her that when she lifts the lid it and it falls open, it’s like a hug from dad.</p> <p align="center">I hope to make one of these for us, too.</p> <p align="center"><em>A few more shots of the box… <br /> <br /></em> <p align="center"></p> <img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11056" border="0" alt="SDC11056" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRpDrugNTfI/AAAAAAAAD74/AU4kWT-1dnk/SDC11056%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /> </p> <p align="center">This box is unique from any other boxes I may make, as I had to cut the rounded corners by hand and used a mix of watercolor and marker to ‘age’ the edges (that was crazy, lemme’ tell ya!). I now have a corner punch and a distressing ink pad. <br /> <br /></p> <img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11062" border="0" alt="SDC11062" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRpDsE0C_BI/AAAAAAAAD78/HymMReVXywE/SDC11062%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /> <p align="center">I chose pictures that showed dad’s personality, and ‘aged’ him from the center of the box outward. I also chose background paper to match the era (or tried to, lol!).</p> <p align="center">Here’s closer pics of the lid:</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11071" border="0" alt="SDC11071" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRpDsZgc8WI/AAAAAAAAD8A/ehPzNMoDFA0/SDC11071%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /> </p> <p><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11072" border="0" alt="SDC11072" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRpDslTqOnI/AAAAAAAAD8E/sQ4bSpm1luA/SDC11072%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /> </p> <p align="center">There ya go! These are fun to make. I have to openly thank dad for teaching me how to make something out of nothing. This box ended up being made from scraps and creative means of sprucing it up!</p> <p align="center">Alrighty, talk to you next time! Have a happy holiday! </p> <p align="center">Give love to your family and those in need!</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-91889899637139134332010-12-27T22:46:00.001-08:002010-12-27T22:46:46.440-08:00Oh What Fun… !<p align="center">Christmas FLEW by! I can’t believe it’s already over. As a parent, I have the sensation of cooking an exquisite meal and then having it gone in minutes.</p> <p align="center">BUT, those few minutes are the most joyous minutes we could ever ask for, and I look forward to them every year.</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11193" border="0" alt="SDC11193" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRmHxwI9lrI/AAAAAAAAD64/BbpM6ypbNj8/SDC11193%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="250" height="334" /> </p> <p align="center"><em>Looks like Santa came!</em></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11194" border="0" alt="SDC11194" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRmHyBmVVNI/AAAAAAAAD68/OF2pG42QUjM/SDC11194%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="262" /> </p> <p align="center"><em>*Gasp* Are those puppets I see?</em></p> <p align="center"><em>…and of course here are the kids opening everything!</em></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11195" border="0" alt="SDC11195" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRmHyuZqmOI/AAAAAAAAD7A/BM5er0izIy4/SDC11195%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="250" height="334" /> </p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11198" border="0" alt="SDC11198" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRmHy2fF-fI/AAAAAAAAD7E/ZRs2SO8_M7w/SDC11198%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="250" height="333" /> </p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11201" border="0" alt="SDC11201" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRmHzUatKoI/AAAAAAAAD7I/orSv4o-aBz4/SDC11201%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="250" /> </p> <p align="center"><em>Jaycen with his AT-AT walker. Trust me, it’s larger than it looks. (hm…either that or Jaycen is a giant…)</em></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11202" border="0" alt="SDC11202" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRmHzq1hKuI/AAAAAAAAD7M/d-OxAnCp0bI/SDC11202%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="250" />  <br /><em>Nothing like a 5-year-old and his daddy playing with legos and Star Wars toys!</em></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11206" border="0" alt="SDC11206" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRmHz9LkHlI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/OmJnwgyFRaA/SDC11206%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="250" height="332" /> </p> <p align="center"><em>Here are the kids testing out their puppets and theater curtain! (found the perfect tier curtain and tension rod at Wal-Mart!)</em></p> <p align="center"><strong><em>And here’s some more holiday fun that we had…</em></strong></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11041" border="0" alt="SDC11041" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRmH0QUxV5I/AAAAAAAAD7U/nB5Ef_l3_ak/SDC11041%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /> </p> <p></p> <p align="center"><em>We made a gingerbread house…</em></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11131" border="0" alt="SDC11131" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRmH0pjVbXI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/1glPbwSiz1Q/SDC11131%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /> </p> <p align="center"><em>Mommy and the kids made </em><em>Santa’s sleigh</em><em> with mommy’s stamps…</em></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11092" border="0" alt="SDC11092" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRmH05RjlVI/AAAAAAAAD7c/z0onP-BH9o4/SDC11092%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /> </p> <p align="center"><em>Mommy made pumpkin bread (this was before the icing was added!)…</em></p> <p align="center"><strong><em>And here are 2 more dashes of cuteness before I go!</em></strong></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11133" border="0" alt="SDC11133" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRmH1E27VbI/AAAAAAAAD7g/BoY3ug1Krwo/SDC11133%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="250" height="332" /> </p> <p></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11134" border="0" alt="SDC11134" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TRmH1T-otrI/AAAAAAAAD7k/MmHCjWrUWM8/SDC11134%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="249" /> </p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#ff0000" size="5">HAPPY HOLIDAYS!</font></strong></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-28943151030290838582010-12-18T23:31:00.001-08:002010-12-18T23:31:35.072-08:00Fickle Creativity! (and something shiny)<p align="center"><strong>I am like a mad scientist.</strong></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="mad scientist" border="0" alt="mad scientist" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TQ200AK5LII/AAAAAAAAD5w/LdpWs4tXX6U/mad%20scientist%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="195" height="262" /> </p> <p align="center">I love coming up with a hundred-million-kagillion ideas. Most of those ideas never get past my notepad…and the ones that do don’t always last long.</p> <p align="center">I am so grateful that I have my stamp design that I do…I LOVE it and it brings a lot of joy to me and our little family. I have definitely caught a very itchy craft bug, however. I will never let it replace my love for artwork, but I have been collecting paper and rhinestones and glue to make paper flowers and butterflies.</p> <p align="center"><strong>…here’s an example:</strong></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cherry chocolate flowers" border="0" alt="cherry chocolate flowers" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TQ200fmzPCI/AAAAAAAAD50/yxupYOtwsp8/cherry%20chocolate%20flowers%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="262" /> </p> <p align="center">I hand-punch these, which is ridiculously fun. Maybe I like destroying paper. Who knew? *wink* …but then I add a rhinestone, and hand-drawn stitches and whatnot on the top petals. It’s sorta my style. I love stitches.</p> <p align="center"><strong>…not the hospital kind. The craft kind. :-)</strong></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="lime sky daisies" border="0" alt="lime sky daisies" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TQ20070m_hI/AAAAAAAAD54/Ox-5rDtlEy8/lime%20sky%20daisies%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="262" /> </p> <p align="center"><em>(This one is a bit bright – lighting is tricky!)</em></p> <p align="center">I have always loved the idea of making ‘supplies’ to help others with their creativity. It’s a huge part of why I love making digital stamps. I am just not sure if this paper embellishment venture is going to get far with me…I suppose I should take a step and see what happens!</p> <p align="center">Enough ranting about paper. Oh, no wait, one more thing. If you love patterned paper, check out <strong><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/paperpeddler?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">Paper Peddler’s shop at Etsy</a>.</strong> She is amazing. I get almost all of my paper there.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Here’s some awesomeness from her shop:</strong></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="paper" border="0" alt="paper" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TQ201MuUMGI/AAAAAAAAD58/alRBwVpNPA4/paper%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="261" /> </p> <p align="center">Okay. NOW, enough about paper. :-)</p> <p align="center"><strong>This is random. But look at this shiny-ness:</strong></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Tron-Legacy-light-Cycle" border="0" alt="Tron-Legacy-light-Cycle" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TQ201gcIUEI/AAAAAAAAD6A/WiEo64OncoQ/Tron-Legacy-light-Cycle%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="205" />  <br /><strong>Mmmmm. Yummy light cycle.</strong></p> <p align="center">Yep. I have two very distinct sides. I love cuteness and fluffy, sparkly things…and then computers and ‘cool’ stuff. Like Tron. I was hesitant to see the new one, as most movies nowadays are all CGI backwash from one to another, but this movie was spectacular. We saw it this morning as a family, and the kids are just as hooked as mommy and daddy. I’ve said it elsewhere, but this film was a delightful mix of the original Tron and something as innovative and futuristic as Bladerunner.</p> <p align="center">Not to mention <a href="http://www.tronsoundtrack.com/" target="_blank">the music</a> was hypnotic.</p> <p align="center">Alright, now that the tomboy side has been let out, I wish you all a lovely weekend and I will write again soon!</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-59782848262787541252010-12-15T15:51:00.001-08:002010-12-15T15:51:51.983-08:00Blog Candy at Real Reasonable Ribbon<p align="center">I stumbled across a neat blog candy giveaway (come on, you have to love giveaways that are called ‘candy’ anything! haha) …and I had to try for it. I haven’t entered for one of these in a long time. :-)</p> <p align="center">This one is at the <a href="http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Real Reasonable Ribbon blog</a>:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Christmas-Blog-Candy-Prize" border="0" alt="Christmas-Blog-Candy-Prize" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TQlUlzym0nI/AAAAAAAAD38/aNuuvBIfSMc/Christmas-Blog-Candy-Prize%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="300" height="293" /></a>  <br />This looks like LOTS of fun to win, and I couldn’t resist since I’ve apparently caught the crafty bug again…even though I can’t seem to craft my home into cleanliness! *sigh*</p> <p align="center"><strong>Wish me luck…and I hope some of you enter, too! <br /></strong>(in that case, good luck to you too!)</p> <p align="center"><em>I have more to share, I will be back again soon. Some shrinky-dinks came in the mail today, I can’t wait to start making charms…AND I’ve been making some paper flowers and butterflies, too! :-)</em></p> <p align="center">Talk with you again soon!</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-65903666655258126442010-12-08T14:15:00.001-08:002010-12-08T14:15:50.243-08:00Gifts and Craft Ideas<p align="center"><em>(Listening to 106.9 FM Christmas music right now, woo hoo!)</em></p> <p align="center">First off…I have had much better luck the past two days with the kids. In our tiny apartment, with all of this rain, one of the few things I can find to give them time apart is watching Sesame Street early in the morning (while mommy and daddy are still sleeping) and letting them play some of their computer games. It may sound like a waste of time, but as long as they’re having fun and not fighting, I am happy for now!</p> <p align="center">So, I have a few ideas, and I am excited for Christmas to come. I have some fun gifts planned. One for a family member, and it’s called an<strong> ‘exploding box’</strong>. </p> <p align="center"><strong>No, it doesn’t involve TNT.</strong></p> <p align="center">It looks something like this:</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="exploding box" border="0" alt="exploding box" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TQADkGO-ZBI/AAAAAAAAD2o/JuTtZpYTBKA/exploding%20box%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="262" /> </p> <p align="center">With the help of one of my lovely <a href="http://meljensdesignsdt.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Design Team</a> ladies, I was linked to an easy tutorial. You can check it out {<a href="http://glitteradventure.blogspot.com/2006/11/exploding-box-class.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>} if you want to. I want to fill mine with photos. I’m not telling who I’m giving it to!</p> <p align="center">As for other gifts, I showed you the puppets for the kids in my last post. Jaycen is getting some cool Star Wars stuff and Brooke is getting Barbie stuff. How do I know? I have connections with the big man in red! *wink*</p> <p align="center">Oh and I have a gift planned for hubby. I ordered it last night. It can take up to several months to make…but I will show you a picture when it arrives!</p> <p align="center"><strong>Some tips for gift-giving… <br /> <br /><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="gift" border="0" alt="gift" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TQADkRqK0MI/AAAAAAAAD2s/mhQpxmtwYmo/gift%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="283" height="262" /></strong></p> <p align="center">Think of what your friend or loved one <em>really</em>  likes. What’s their favorite food? Color? Movie? What do they love to do? For example, one year I got my father a fish-shaped oven mitt and stuffed it with Hot Tamale candy, because he loved cooking, fishing, and Hot Tamales. :-)</p> <p align="center">If they love movies and popcorn, why not buy their favorite movie, and stuff it in a little metal bucket with some bags of popcorn? Or get a theatre gift card? You don’t have to go all out, just think of something simple and creative that you could put together…after all, if it comes from the heart, that’s all that matters!</p> <p align="center">Okay, enough of my gushy ranting, haha.</p> <p align="center">Here’s another idea I have…I mentioned it yesterday.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Shrinky Dinks!</strong></p> <p align="center">Do you remember those? (click <a href="http://shrinkydinks.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to see their website) I had some ‘Pound Puppy’ ones in the 80’s. An idea popped into my head the other day to make shrinky charms from my digital stamps.</p> <p align="center">Something like this…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/57559616/big-headed-blue-bird-mini-pendant" target="_blank"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="charm" border="0" alt="charm" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TQADlFM8vnI/AAAAAAAAD2w/9rtKDkln2Mk/charm%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="262" /></a>  <br /><em>(This is from the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/Missbluebirdandoscar?ref=ls_profile" target="_blank">Missbluebirdandoscar</a> Etsy Shop)</em></p> <p align="center">I would probably do single charms, and maybe some phone charms and bookmarks or something. Maybe just charms. Who knows! But I also want to get some <a href="http://www.goestores.com/catalog.aspx?Merchant=shrinkydinks&DeptID=85987" target="_blank">Shrinky Dink kits</a> for the kids too. I think that would be a fun craft!</p> <p align="center">Anyway, I will write again soon. Have a lovely day! :-)</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-72469907089529784222010-12-07T09:43:00.001-08:002010-12-07T09:43:36.649-08:00Time is Fun when your Having Flies…<p align="center">Okay so I had mojo going with my posts and then it went POPCRUNCHFIZZzzzzzzzZZzzzz…</p> <p align="center">I blinked and a month went by! Hmm…a review of some things that have happened since I last wrote.</p> <p align="center"><strong>The kids did a trunk-or-treat and dressed as Nintendo classics for Halloween</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TP5yLTDDYsI/AAAAAAAAD1s/SYXBCO4I7oc/s1600-h/SDC10889%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10889" border="0" alt="SDC10889" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TP5yMvcT8nI/AAAAAAAAD10/ravgUFSg_6w/SDC10889_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="262" /></a>  <br /><strong>We saw lions, tigers and bears (oh my!) at the Point Defiance Zoo…well okay, no lions, but there were sharks. DUN-DUN…DUN-DUN….</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TP5yNmaR2ZI/AAAAAAAAD14/asmYs8QLf6w/s1600-h/SDC10948%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10948" border="0" alt="SDC10948" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TP5yOW4RExI/AAAAAAAAD18/dTySQa7PRAk/SDC10948_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="262" /></a>  <br /><strong>It snowed… (hoping for more!)</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TP5yO6cUukI/AAAAAAAAD2A/aXL5FpWoCiA/s1600-h/SDC11014%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11014" border="0" alt="SDC11014" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TP5yPbQXQ_I/AAAAAAAAD2E/rHVJ6ZSViQk/SDC11014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="262" /></a>  <br /><strong>…and we got a new, itty-bitty Christmas Tree. Trying to start fresh this year.</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TP5yQIjZhDI/AAAAAAAAD2I/m-XqPfCsoIk/s1600-h/SDC11029%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC11029" border="0" alt="SDC11029" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TP5yQ0-BfyI/AAAAAAAAD2M/iIUsM_4y5j0/SDC11029_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="262" /></a>  <br /><strong>A few other updates, in no particular order (though I numbered them because numbers look fancy!)…</strong></p> <ol> <li> <div align="center">We made a gingerbread house last night</div> </li> <li> <div align="center">We had to get a Feliway for the cats (they’re crazy)</div> </li> <li> <div align="center">We got a bird feeder for the Juncos and Chickadees</div> </li> <li> <div align="center">I have been doing artwork like a mad-woman</div> </li> <li> <div align="center">We got the kids their first Legos</div> </li> <li> <div align="center">We finished homeschooling for this term <br /><em>(Brooke is becoming a great narrator…though her copywork seems to be lost when she writes for fun)</em></div> </li> </ol> <p align="center"><strong>A few things I am wanting to work on… <br />(more numbers, yay!)</strong></p> <ol> <li> <div align="center">Getting our house more de-cluttered <br /><em>(the front room is looking tons better)</em></div> </li> <li> <div align="center">Actually participating in <a href="http://thetoysociety.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Toy Society</a></div> </li> <li> <div align="center">Putting out some <a href="http://www.operationnice.com/" target="_blank">Operation Nice</a> cards <br /><em>(I keep forgetting…haven’t done it yet!)</em></div> </li> <li> <div align="center">Blogging and uploading family pictures more!!</div> </li> </ol> <p align="center">…and of course, being as manic as I am, I have a ton of ideas for things to make. I still need to finish Jaycen’s crochet teddy bear, and I am still considering making a little shop for those. I am also considering making little ‘charms’ with Shrinkie-Dinks out of my stamp designs. …Why? Because Shrinkie-Dinks are fun!</p> <p align="center"><strong>Now for a cool spirit-of-giving story…</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TP5yRXRoDBI/AAAAAAAAD2Q/YpRegtDZbQc/s1600-h/puppets%5B2%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="puppets" border="0" alt="puppets" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TP5yRzioeSI/AAAAAAAAD2U/sk4T-trOkiY/puppets_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="306" height="242" /></a>  <br />Here are some puppets. I mentioned wanting to get puppets together for the kids for Christmas. I don’t have time (or the sneakiness factor) to make them by hand, so I ordered <a href="http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?demandPrefix=12&sku=6/1322&mode=Searching&erec=0&D=velour+hand+puppet&Ntx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&Ntk=all&requestURI=processProductsCatalog&N=0&y=0&Ntt=velour+hand+puppet&Dx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&x=0&sd=Animal+Hand+Puppets" target="_blank">this cute set</a> from Oriental Trading.</p> <p align="center">They came…and they are just as cute as they look (my hand can fit in them too, which is a big deal)…but got no lion…and 2 giraffes! This made me sad, as Lions are Brooke’s favorite animal. So I called Oriental Trading. Guess what they did? They didn’t ask for pictures or any other kind of proof…the gal on the phone apologized and they’re sending out a WHOLE NEW SET for free, saying that we can keep them all. Isn’t that amazing?</p> <p align="center">I know this might not seem a big deal to you, but in this day and age with everything so big and instant (and electronic) it was so nice to experience such trust and kindness in the spirit of the holidays.</p> <p align="center"><strong>I will write again soon! (hugs to you all)</strong></p> <p align="center"><strong></strong><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-27930873166884662152010-10-18T11:42:00.001-07:002010-10-18T11:42:39.771-07:00Owls, Bears and Bunnies (oh my!)<p align="center">So, I’d been gabbing about the little owl from <a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/japanfan/a620/" target="_blank">Think Geek</a> that' I’d been eyeing. I finally got one. I’m trying to upload the video of it on Facebook, but Facebook is being silly so we’ll see. </p> <p align="center">I love hooking it up to my laptop. It’s the cutest little thing, and it keeps me company as I work on the computer. :-)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/japanfan/a620/" target="_blank"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="a620_usb_robot_owl_colors_embed" border="0" alt="a620_usb_robot_owl_colors_embed" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLyVFRpsUiI/AAAAAAAADkA/W1cYixBUwXI/a620_usb_robot_owl_colors_embed%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="212" /></a>  <br /><em>(I got the white one. *smiles*)</em></p> <p align="center">I’ve been working on crocheting Brooke’s pink bear from the <a href="http://planetjune.com" target="_blank">Planet June</a> pattern I told you about recently. It’s turning out really well. I’ve been brushing the pieces as I make them, and having ‘real’ stuffed animal eyes and noses makes it so much more fun to make it! :-)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLyVF83DzKI/AAAAAAAADkE/zK_gEBChkYI/s1600-h/crochet-bear-head%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="crochet-bear-head" border="0" alt="crochet-bear-head" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLyVGi3K7AI/AAAAAAAADkI/fiA9cTI_Tps/crochet-bear-head_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="262" /></a>  <br />I can’t wait to work on Jaycen’s. His will be yellow.</p> <p align="center">As for homeschooling, it’s going better and better. Brooke is paying attention, she still gets distracted sometimes depending on what we’re reading about, but she was able to recount two stories we read last week just as well as she did right after reading them. She also sat down and taught Jaycen some math this morning…and picked out a Beethoven song on the Classical Music station this morning, comparing it to ‘Eroica’.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLyVHM8B__I/AAAAAAAADkM/1pyOajGlzdc/s1600-h/brooke%27s-bunny%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="brooke's-bunny" border="0" alt="brooke's-bunny" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLyVHYQZafI/AAAAAAAADkQ/klRrP80B0xM/brooke%27s-bunny_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="262" /></a></p> <p align="center"><em>(Brooke’s last pencil study of ‘A Young Hare’ by Albrecht Durer)</em> </p> <p align="center">In case you’re wondering, we went without the schedule today. I’m getting a sore throat and have been really ‘heady’ today. It’s hard to teach, or have patience to teach, when your head feels like it’s under water. I hope I feel better tomorrow! :-)</p> <p align="center">I hope you’re all doing well with fall in full swing. It’s starting to feel nippy here…winter is on its way! I hope it snows this year. :-)</p> <p align="center">(hugs to you)</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-46761497780317049062010-10-11T13:32:00.001-07:002010-10-11T13:32:47.770-07:00Some Crafty Fun :-)<p align="center">I sat down and made some ‘Nice Cards’ that I printed off from <a href="http://www.operationnice.com/" target="_blank">Operation Nice</a>. I wrote some little messages on them. I haven’t put them in my purse yet…I’m not sure where I’m going to leave them, but we’ll see! I hope to use them soon. :-)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLN0ZlDzE4I/AAAAAAAADfc/G5GBEesNwaU/s1600-h/my-nice-cards%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="my-nice-cards" border="0" alt="my-nice-cards" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLN0Zwq3e7I/AAAAAAAADfg/bMEx8C4Z8iM/my-nice-cards_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />Speaking of Operation Nice, she has an <strong>assignment to give thanks to someone this week!</strong> <a href="http://www.operationnice.com/2010/10/nice-assignment-give-thanks.html" target="_blank">Check out her post</a>, she has a printable Gratitude card if you don’t have one to send. :-)</p> <p align="center">A little update in homeschooling…it has been going really well. Brooke’s handwriting is improving and so is her reading. Her narration is improving, too!</p> <p align="center">Along with reading and writing, some of our favorite activities are art and music. Here is Brooke’s and my art study from Friday…Albrecht Durer’s ‘A Young Hare’.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Brooke’s drawing:</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLN0aZWgseI/AAAAAAAADfk/9KcWDOH94b4/s1600-h/bunny-face-brooke%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bunny-face-brooke" border="0" alt="bunny-face-brooke" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLN0ajXxnpI/AAAAAAAADfo/ex6_sPGmtus/bunny-face-brooke_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />She got a bit distracted, but had fun. She’s been waiting to draw the bunny ever since she saw me print the picture out!</p> <p align="center"><strong>Here’s my drawing:</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLN0bAt7GKI/AAAAAAAADfs/HeqjcpE99oI/s1600-h/bunny-drawing-full%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bunny-drawing-full" border="0" alt="bunny-drawing-full" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLN0bpDDMyI/AAAAAAAADfw/gOwd4J8ZTsY/bunny-drawing-full_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="400" /></a>  <br />I went a little nuts, I love drawing animals. :-)</p> <p align="center">Talk to you all again soon!</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-70314134848658795892010-10-10T20:59:00.001-07:002010-10-10T20:59:38.623-07:00Felt Cuteness :-)<p align="center">I haven’t sewn for a while. I made the kids’ little quilts for them when they were very little, and a queen-sized jeans quilt for hubby about a year or so ago, but since then…not a lot!</p> <p align="center">To side-track a bit, our Library has a little puppet theater that the kids can play with. It’s the first thing our kids navigate to when we go there (forget looking at the books, they want the puppets!) so I have been dying to get them one of their own.</p> <p align="center">I searched today for a theater and some puppets. Most options are expensive…it’s crazy! But I finally found the CUTEST little free pattern at <a href="http://jessicapeck.blogspot.com/2009/12/doorway-puppet-show-felt-hand-puppets.html" target="_blank">‘Sweetie Pie Bakery’</a>…check out this picture…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://jessicapeck.blogspot.com/2009/12/doorway-puppet-show-felt-hand-puppets.html" target="_blank"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="puppet theater2" border="0" alt="puppet theater2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLKLphvtldI/AAAAAAAADfU/Q6Z7VGIouTA/puppet%20theater2%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="394" /></a> Like I said this is a free pattern (<a href="http://jessicapeck.blogspot.com/2009/12/doorway-puppet-show-felt-hand-puppets.html" target="_blank">click here to see it</a>). It just uses felt for the puppets, fabric for the curtains, and a little tension rod that you put in a doorway close to the floor. How cute and simple is that?? I hope to be able to find & collect the felt I need to make this for the kids for Christmas!</p> <p align="center">The gal that made this pattern also has an <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetiepiebakery?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>, and I am horribly addicted to Etsy so I went to check it out. She sells the cutest little felt patterns there, and some pre-made cuteness (like the candies below!).</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/56948266/felt-tea-party-treatsplay-setpretend" target="_blank"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="felt food toy" border="0" alt="felt food toy" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TLKLp-UqRlI/AAAAAAAADfY/CzmUsIJhiOQ/felt%20food%20toy%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="258" /></a>  <br />I wish I was creative enough to think up something like this! I might be, I don’t know, haven’t tried it for a while. :-) My next project with it will hopefully be the kids’ puppets, and then someday the sock monkeys I never finished.</p> <p align="center"><em>(those should be cute…I bought stripey tube-socks to make them with! *smiles*)</em></p> <p align="center">Anyway I hope you all had a lovely weekend. :-) Talk with you again soon!</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-40659231988185916972010-10-08T13:15:00.001-07:002010-10-08T13:17:38.221-07:00The cat stole my wallet…<p align="center">Okay, you are all going to think I’m weird. Well, maybe not. But I can’t resist the cuteness. First little owls for your computer, and now this! I found this <a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/japanfan/da87/" target="_blank">kitty bank</a> on the website where I hope to purchase a <a href="http://thelandofliquidsunshine.blogspot.com/2010/09/night-owl-and-cutest-thing.html" target="_blank">USB owl</a> from, and this is just the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="da87_mechanical_kitty_coin_bank" border="0" alt="da87_mechanical_kitty_coin_bank" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TK97-tV2b9I/AAAAAAAADfI/BbA8JHjqbRw/da87_mechanical_kitty_coin_bank_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="300" /> </p> <p align="center">I want to get one for the kids. I won’t even tell them about it. It will come in the mail and steal their coins. I can see it now – they will just crack up! </p> <p align="center"><em>Here’s the video from their website…</em></p> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zfXrNUSuNxc?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zfXrNUSuNxc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <p align="center"><em>See you next time!</em></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-59473189918376218642010-10-07T17:26:00.001-07:002010-10-07T17:26:44.456-07:00Two AWESOME Ideas<p align="center">I was browsing the web just a minute ago as I was starting to cook dinner (chicken strips with mashed potatoes…yum!) and I don’t know HOW I found these two sites, but I did.</p> <p align="center"><strong>I am adding these to my to-do lists. So simple, and yet so amazingly awesome.</strong></p> <p align="center"><strong>First, <a href="http://www.operationnice.com/" target="_blank">Operation Nice.</a></strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TK5lQL7zJWI/AAAAAAAADeo/b7oiS-spOd0/s1600-h/nice%20download%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="nice download" border="0" alt="nice download" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TK5lQQWbkEI/AAAAAAAADes/6it88zBAOoc/nice%20download_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br /><a href="http://www.operationnice.com/" target="_blank">Operation Nice</a> is a blog that focuses on spreading kindness. What I’ve seen so far is story shares of acts of kindness, and fun little downloadable notes that you can leave in random places as you’re out-and-about.</p> <p align="center">Imagine having a bad day and all of a sudden you notice a little note tucked under a placemat at your restaurant table that reads <em>‘You’re a good person’.</em> Wow. What a neat thing to do for someone.</p> <p align="center"><strong>And this one… <a href="http://thetoysociety.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Toy Society</a> …is just awesome.</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TK5lQvgeTII/AAAAAAAADew/DoYKxK3JwJI/s1600-h/TheToySocietyLogo%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="TheToySocietyLogo" border="0" alt="TheToySocietyLogo" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TK5lQ4VvDoI/AAAAAAAADe0/iJAR7HVnyfE/TheToySocietyLogo_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="112" /></a> <a href="http://thetoysociety.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Toy Society</a> is about making a handmade toy (crocheted teddy bear, hand-sewn doll, etc.) and leaving it someplace where a child might find it.</p> <p align="center">There are stories of drops, and pick-ups. It’s neat to see the stories from families that find the toys, and pictures of the children holding them!</p> <p align="center">Can you imagine? I so want to do this. I have been making my little crochet teddy bears, and though the progress is slow, I think this would be so awesome to leave little crochet teddy bears for children to find! Of course, I will make toys for my children too.  *smiles* But I think it would be neat to get my kids involved in this…leaving a little hand-made toy to be adopted!</p> <p align="center">Please spread the word, or jump in on these! I am so excited, I can hardly stand it. :-)</p> <p align="center">I’ll let you know when I get going on these!</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-74170095005073826232010-10-07T13:35:00.001-07:002010-10-07T13:35:56.113-07:00Things I would like to do…<p align="center"><em>(In no particular order :-))</em></p> <ol> <li> <div align="center">Set up an Etsy shop for my crochet crafts</div> </li> <li> <div align="center">Finish the kids’ and hubby’s scarves</div> </li> <li> <div align="center">De-clutter our house</div> </li> <li> <div align="center"><strong>Take the kids to Disneyland</strong></div> </li> <li> <div align="center">Start using my Wii fitness program again</div> </li> <li> <div align="center">Take the kids kite-flying</div> </li> <li> <div align="center">Start a garden on our patio</div> </li> <li> <div align="center">Get a bird-feeder</div> </li> </ol> <p align="center">Taking the kids to Disneyland is the most important of these to me. I hope to take them there before they grow much older.</p> <p align="center">I have many, many, many more little projects and plans beyond this, but these popped into my head. I just had to share something today. ^^</p> <p align="center">(hugs)</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-12616509990083243892010-10-06T13:16:00.001-07:002010-10-06T13:16:27.844-07:00Teddy Bears, Art & Playmobil<p align="center">Okay, I just can’t resist teddy bears. I really love the plush, soft, floppy ones that say ‘hug me’!</p> <p align="center">Yesterday at Blockbuster, Brooke and I spotted a sweet little movie-star bear with eyelashes, a dress, a beauty mark and sunglasses. I got it for her – it was just too adorable. Brooke hasn’t set her down since!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZCD-LnhI/AAAAAAAADdk/ypmETf2MBR4/s1600-h/SDC10835%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10835" border="0" alt="SDC10835" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZCcfF6cI/AAAAAAAADdo/mDWeyADPigE/SDC10835_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a> <br /><em>(Of course Jaycen loves his puppy as much as Brooke loves her new bear!)</em></p> <p align="center">Today I hope to start crocheting a teddy bear pattern I bought the other day from <a href="http://planetjune.com" target="_blank">Planet June</a>. I ordered some eyes and noses from her store too, and I can’t WAIT for those to come in the mail.</p> <p align="center"><em>(Here’s a picture from her site of the pattern I purchased…)</em></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZDAOCJdI/AAAAAAAADds/5hKAHLpChbQ/s1600-h/planet%20june%20teddy%20bears%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="planet june teddy bears" border="0" alt="planet june teddy bears" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZDu0abJI/AAAAAAAADdw/Ke4v1IbT1jM/planet%20june%20teddy%20bears_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="350" height="230" /></a>  <br />It’s amazing how such simple things can make me smile! Yarn, stuffing and bits of plastic can make the CUTEST things. <br /> <br /><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10836" border="0" alt="SDC10836" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZDzJ2NmI/AAAAAAAADd0/Yr8B9mOeKrk/SDC10836_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="400" /></p> <p align="center">The kids have been doing lots of art lately. I got them some fun Crayola kits a week or so ago, and they taped a bunch of their Halloween crafts on the door!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZEIcW40I/AAAAAAAADd4/NQqHqDOCNdg/s1600-h/SDC10833%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10833" border="0" alt="SDC10833" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZEihgDBI/AAAAAAAADd8/kqyXA7x6mEY/SDC10833_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="400" /></a>  <br /><em>(A Vampire bear with a bat friend!)</em> <br /> <br />…and of course, with my stamp designing I do every day, Brooke loves sitting down and using one of mommy’s older Micron pens to do her own designs. :-)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZE1EgneI/AAAAAAAADeA/vQzVEqMJdbM/s1600-h/SDC10834%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10834" border="0" alt="SDC10834" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZFMeXrAI/AAAAAAAADeE/tGkvaUNejaU/SDC10834_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a> <br /><em>(Little witchy cat with a spider on her hat)</em></p> <p align="center">…but some of the most fun we’ve had so far this week is a re-enactment of the story of Julius Caesar and his ventures against the Britons. I pulled out the kids’ Roman & barbarian Playmobil toys and built the white cliffs and beaches.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZFfcDTWI/AAAAAAAADeI/zwnijNCytww/s1600-h/SDC10828%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10828" border="0" alt="SDC10828" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZFxiWfcI/AAAAAAAADeM/9cxWBGlij7g/SDC10828_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a> <br />Check out this little army of Britons…Rome doesn’t stand a chance!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZGPYRFYI/AAAAAAAADeQ/Zop6BWhPKoI/s1600-h/SDC10832%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10832" border="0" alt="SDC10832" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKzZGuH6-DI/AAAAAAAADeU/6WlyDy6pbMM/SDC10832_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>    <br /><em>(Brooke had to throw in the lion and tiger, lol)</em></p> <p align="center">That’s it for now…I hope you’re all having a lovely mid-week!</p> <p align="center">(hugs)</p> <img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-84744144574354060102010-10-05T11:30:00.001-07:002010-10-05T11:30:53.190-07:00Time flies!<p align="center">There aren’t enough hours in the day! My mother used to say that and now I believe her. I’ve been doing so many things…I am trying to set up a few places on the web to further share my stamp designs, I have been getting into crocheting/knitting again, and homeschool is in full swing. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuvgqR4iI/AAAAAAAADcI/R86NSD4xE4g/s1600-h/SDC10796%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10796" border="0" alt="SDC10796" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuv7AQFPI/AAAAAAAADcM/z68arbO-hYo/SDC10796_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />I feel homeschool is sort of so-so. Maybe it’s fine, but it’s hard to tell. We all tend to watch movies and stuff in free-time, but Brooke is improving in Narration (depending on the theme of the story) and copywork. I am determined…I’m not going to give up!</p> <p align="center">Back to the crochet thing, I have this big itch to make cute teddy bears and scarves and sell them on Etsy (check out <a href="http://planetjune.com" target="_blank">PlanetJune</a> to see what critters I’m thinking of making!). I just love the idea of having my own shop again there. I’ve never tried to sell stuff that I crochet, so I don’t know how well it will do. I also focus so intently on my artwork in every venue, that I am not sure where I would talk about my crochet! But I suppose I could share some here as I make things. We’ll see. :-)</p> <p align="center"><strong>Anyway, here are some cute pictures…</strong></p> <p align="center">I taught the kids how to sew a week or so ago. I think Brooke is pulling the box of supplies out again as I type this!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuwUmpyoI/AAAAAAAADcQ/Gs2q8i-9QuE/s1600-h/SDC10802%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10802" border="0" alt="SDC10802" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuwoR2TmI/AAAAAAAADcU/1TC59q53wIA/SDC10802_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuxBRYQVI/AAAAAAAADcY/m5PXOddq5cc/s1600-h/SDC10802%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10802" border="0" alt="SDC10802" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuxYWb-dI/AAAAAAAADcc/Or8s39sJeec/SDC10802_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />Jaycen made ‘sleeping bags’ and pillows for his two favorite stuffed animals!</p> <p align="center">Rex being irresistibly cute…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuxiPk5iI/AAAAAAAADcg/2fuUXTvqs9w/s1600-h/SDC10815%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10815" border="0" alt="SDC10815" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuyBgu_nI/AAAAAAAADck/mpj1_4_anlQ/SDC10815_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a> <br /> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuyRCE5uI/AAAAAAAADco/hUTW9wUS2OM/s1600-h/SDC10814%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10814" border="0" alt="SDC10814" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuyiYv4xI/AAAAAAAADcs/Y77lezqm2hs/SDC10814_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />He’s taken over the kitty bed that we got for Bolita. Took him some time, but this is just too darn cute for words!!</p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuy0-KA3I/AAAAAAAADcw/D581R29eTbY/s1600-h/SDC10824%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10824" border="0" alt="SDC10824" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuzX3rAGI/AAAAAAAADc0/F1rEXhdEd_I/SDC10824_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a> </p> <p align="center">As much as Rex gives Bolita a hard time, I think they do love eachother. Cats are funny like that…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuzlzsLhI/AAAAAAAADc4/hFM-gnfwJj0/s1600-h/SDC10827%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10827" border="0" alt="SDC10827" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtuz29piAI/AAAAAAAADc8/Y_Eg_8M7KXA/SDC10827_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="400" /></a> <br />Bolita is such a lovely little girl. She’s becoming ‘plushy’!</p> <p align="center">Now for some more pictures…Halloween fun and homeschooling!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtu0EA6d2I/AAAAAAAADdA/Jgi2-O-83wE/s1600-h/SDC10809%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10809" border="0" alt="SDC10809" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtu0n80ifI/AAAAAAAADdE/7K1iFKUZ05Q/SDC10809_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="400" /></a> <br />Brooke’s glittery picture of a House Sparrow! <br />  <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtu0_JiApI/AAAAAAAADdI/C3XKg4izjBU/s1600-h/SDC10806%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10806" border="0" alt="SDC10806" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtu1UN9n1I/AAAAAAAADdM/VRwpLIyTKDY/SDC10806_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />Making some fun Halloween decorations…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtu1iAMQpI/AAAAAAAADdQ/HosJjWJ2gaM/s1600-h/SDC10811%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10811" border="0" alt="SDC10811" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtu2GS_SgI/AAAAAAAADdU/KQu_VzG6Rhg/SDC10811_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a> <img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10810" border="0" alt="SDC10810" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtu2bFIIOI/AAAAAAAADdY/kNK98YkGFlk/SDC10810_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /> <br /> …and of course, I’ve been working on my stamp designs.</p> <p align="center">I’m really grateful that I have this as a hobby-turned-business. It’s a huge blessing.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtu27soCAI/AAAAAAAADdc/njf_NAUSigY/s1600-h/SDC10821%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10821" border="0" alt="SDC10821" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TKtu3CR_L0I/AAAAAAAADdg/_BYhVOftWGA/SDC10821_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />Sorry I’ve been behind on posting – I hope to get in the swing someday soon before the world ends! Lol, sheesh.</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-65751397140720308122010-09-20T14:13:00.001-07:002010-09-20T14:13:16.080-07:00Perfectionism<p align="center">I drive myself nuts. I drive hubby nuts, too. And the cats. And the kids. Poor things, they all have to listen to mommy being so hard on herself about the cleaning, not doing enough for the family, messing up with cooking recipes, forgetting things, and so on.</p> <p align="center"><strong><u>I need to not be so hard on myself.</u></strong> I know I need to focus on the things that are making us all happy – even if our house isn’t up-to-snuff and we aren’t doing everything perfectly!</p> <p align="center"><strong>Here are some awesome things we’ve done together</strong>…some new and some old. These are just things that pop into my mind (and things I can find pictures for on the fly! lol)</p> <p align="center">~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p> <p align="center">We gave a home to a homeless, hungry kitty, and he’s been with us for a year so far. We love you Rex!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJfOVziJ8VI/AAAAAAAADWc/wgfBs63MbFc/s1600-h/SDC10726%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10726" border="0" alt="SDC10726" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJfOWMEIrfI/AAAAAAAADWg/1pimqM_LK-A/SDC10726_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />We gave a home to ‘Bolita’ – a young kitty who was a mommy on the streets. She is such a sweetheart!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJfOWvguT_I/AAAAAAAADWk/icA1v1Q4rWM/s1600-h/SDC10739%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10739" border="0" alt="SDC10739" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJfOXNCKUHI/AAAAAAAADWo/hgLP1mgFltA/SDC10739_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br /><em>(yes, she loves to lay under my computer desk as I work!)</em></p> <p align="center">I have been finally teaching the kids about temperature in homeschooling… (I wanted to do this last year!)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJfOXehJWUI/AAAAAAAADWs/z2qZIySDvrw/s1600-h/SDC10768%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10768" border="0" alt="SDC10768" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJfOX0cj1RI/AAAAAAAADWw/fgh1XvOBB9U/SDC10768_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />Brooke has been doing animal study – something else I also wanted to do last year!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJfOYA5FPzI/AAAAAAAADW0/5ss70acBLi4/s1600-h/SDC10776%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10776" border="0" alt="SDC10776" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJfOYd-KQhI/AAAAAAAADW4/xPpB6YqtAMU/SDC10776_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />The kids have been spending HOURS outside nearly every day, playing with the neighbor kids…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJfOZer_AqI/AAAAAAAADW8/A6FVZiauOcU/s1600-h/SDC10779%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10779" border="0" alt="SDC10779" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJfOaG1KbrI/AAAAAAAADXA/4LuNi5FT8m0/SDC10779_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br /><em>(Brooke is on the left)</em></p> <p align="center">Brooke has been learning how to use a scooter – it belongs to her best friend (who lives upstairs) and she loves using it!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJfOaYcvaFI/AAAAAAAADXE/zRdlO_t4424/s1600-h/SDC10780%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10780" border="0" alt="SDC10780" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJfOa9kb1AI/AAAAAAAADXI/WoxqMrAUdBA/SDC10780_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</p> <p align="center"><strong>The kids playing outside is a BIG DEAL.</strong> I am horribly reclusive sometimes…I often prefer the quiet of our home. I could spend days indoors and be fine. So I kept the kids bound to that for years. This year, however, starting in summer – I decided to change that. The kids played outside ALL day every day in July!</p> <p align="center"><strong>Also, digging in whole-heartedly with homeschooling this year is also a big deal.</strong> After bombing last year with dad being in the hospital in Sept through November…and then his passing…I totally locked up over the concept of trying again. But we’re happily into our 3rd week and having fun!</p> <p align="center"><strong><em><font color="#8080c0" size="5">I can do this. :-) And if I can pump myself up, then you can too!</font></em></strong></p> <p align="center">(hugs to all)</p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-57055585333674105362010-09-16T12:30:00.001-07:002010-09-16T12:32:13.064-07:00Night Owl (and the CUTEST Thing!)<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJJwYflNdgI/AAAAAAAADUI/sc_PjJjXg1E/s1600-h/owl%5B2%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="owl" border="0" alt="owl" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJJwYlyOJ0I/AAAAAAAADUM/L9_jeslXdVI/owl_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="300" height="209" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="5">I am a night owl.</font></strong></p> <p align="center">So much so, in fact, that I cannot seem to find enough hours in the day and so I stay up so <em>incredibly</em> late that it’s invigorating until I have to wake up in the morning…at which point, I feel like a grumpy bear waking from hibernation.</p> <p align="center"><strong>My brain doesn’t even TURN ON until the evening, folks.</strong></p> <p align="center">I envy cats for their cat naps and owls for their daytime slumber fests.</p> <p align="center"><strong><em>Mr. Owl, can I join you in your tree?</em></strong></p> <p align="center">Now, for some unbelievable cuteness. I found this when I googled for owls. Beware, if you are a compulsive buyer of things that are adorable, then call the shop-a-holics hotline, because this is SO cute that it should be banned.</p> <p align="center">(…at least in my opinion)</p> <center><object width="350" height="287"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OaHM06VczLI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OaHM06VczLI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="287"></embed></object></center> <p align="center">I actually found myself looking for spare USB ports on my laptop, and thinking of ways to make the cats go without cat litter so that I could afford <a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/giftsunder20/a620/" target="_blank">this little guy.</a></p> <p align="center">*sigh*</p> <p align="center"><strong>Oh little owl. You tempt me so.</strong></p> <p align="center"><em>(…as for today’s homeschooling – icky symptoms kicked in from my usual night-owl-ism, so we listened to Beethoven, did some practice reading, and did our normal temperature chart for the day. I should show that to you sometime. *smiles*)</em></p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-54729152268315449282010-09-15T12:45:00.001-07:002010-09-15T12:45:35.937-07:00Art and Nature Study<p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiSHckZtI/AAAAAAAADS4/RmcGVrhDq9Q/s1600-h/SDC10725%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10725" border="0" alt="SDC10725" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiSS2jf4I/AAAAAAAADS8/1pilFrofYgM/SDC10725_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br /><em>Cute kitty-cat! Okay, okay. I couldn’t resist, sorry. Rex is just so fluffy and so cute. :-) We actually studied ‘cats’ last week – Rex received LOTS of attention!</em></p> <p align="center">The kids and I are studying <strong>Albrecht Durer</strong> this term. Here is one of his works (a wood carving, if you can believe it!), called <strong>‘The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’</strong>…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiSzDjLWI/AAAAAAAADTA/1PWwkG2qoz0/s1600-h/The%20Four%20Horseman%20of%20the%20Apocalypse%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse" border="0" alt="The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiTD6cE6I/AAAAAAAADTE/KIB_m5kaFNo/The%20Four%20Horseman%20of%20the%20Apocalypse_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="410" /></a>  <br />I’ve always been fascinated with themes like this (yeah I know, a little macabre, but ‘tis the truth!), so this has been by far one of my favorite pieces we’ve studied.</p> <p align="center">Last Friday, the kids and I sat down and sketched it in pencil.</p> <p align="center"><strong>Here’s Jaycen’s drawing</strong>…the dots are all of the people, and he drew a cloud at the top. I think the little design at the bottom was his version of the artist’s signature.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiTrEw81I/AAAAAAAADTI/AiKflMxt7KQ/s1600-h/jaycen%27s-4-horsemen%5B2%5D.gif"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="jaycen's-4-horsemen" border="0" alt="jaycen's-4-horsemen" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiUNQLfFI/AAAAAAAADTM/fYO0WWGsnLY/jaycen%27s-4-horsemen_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="300" height="400" /></a>  <br /><strong>Here’s Brooke’s drawing:</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiUS1kRqI/AAAAAAAADTQ/QiaPwAEBzLg/s1600-h/brooke%27s-4-horsemen%5B3%5D.gif"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="brooke's-4-horsemen" border="0" alt="brooke's-4-horsemen" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiVCJrs9I/AAAAAAAADTU/nM1GgodSoLw/brooke%27s-4-horsemen_thumb%5B1%5D.gif?imgmax=800" width="350" height="262" /></a>  <br />She focused on the thin horse on the left. She also drew the angel and the clouds. She was discouraged, but I told her that it looked amazing! She spent time drawing the shadows and everything. I think that’s neat. :-)</p> <p align="center"><strong>Here’s my drawing:</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiVXaIwgI/AAAAAAAADTY/UlGWmm45qi4/s1600-h/4-horseman-picture%5B2%5D.gif"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="4-horseman-picture" border="0" alt="4-horseman-picture" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiV0V7d0I/AAAAAAAADTc/8k5jupQ0C0c/4-horseman-picture_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="300" height="382" /></a>  <br />I don’t really like drawing people. I focused on the center horse, with the horseman carrying scales.</p> <p align="center">I really <em>love</em> this work of art, and I can’t wait to study it again this Friday!</p> <p align="center"><strong>Here’s a leaf Brooke drew from last Friday’s nature walk:</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiWdjHlsI/AAAAAAAADTg/r3a_KQxy3xg/s1600-h/brooke%27s-leaf%5B2%5D.gif"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="brooke's-leaf" border="0" alt="brooke's-leaf" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiW3X5jLI/AAAAAAAADTk/TXPhIbAg5jo/brooke%27s-leaf_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />She really bucked drawing this, saying that she doesn’t know how to draw a leaf (she was discouraged by her horseman drawing) – and I kept reminding her that all she needs to do is look at the leaf that we brought home, and draw what she sees. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be from the heart.</p> <p align="center">So, after a while she sat down with the leaf and drew it.</p> <p align="center">:-)</p> <p align="center">Oh…and poor Rex isn’t too fond of homeschooling. The kids went crazy with reading this morning and were laughing, and Rex thought they were laughing at him.</p> <p align="center"><strong>He didn’t like that.</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiXV1e42I/AAAAAAAADTo/rVDWsH4EdNg/s1600-h/SDC10759%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="SDC10759" border="0" alt="SDC10759" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TJEiXkEWhoI/AAAAAAAADTs/kv1JyROapO0/SDC10759_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="225" /></a>  <br />I’ll be uploading some videos today on <a href="http://facebook.com/mnjenkins" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. If you’re on my friend list, you’ll be able to see them. :-)</p> <p align="center">Until next time! Love you all! <br /> <br /><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-23073491922749947242010-09-12T21:00:00.001-07:002010-09-12T21:01:38.447-07:00Week 1 of homeschooling…<p>This is a breakdown of what we learned last week. I have some pictures that the kids drew from our nature walk and our art study – I will do my best to remember to upload those for you to see!</p> <p>Because Monday was a day off, we pushed literature to Tuesday and combined History & Geography on Wednesday.</p> <p><strong><u>Monday</u>:</strong> (labor day)</p> <p><strong><u>Tuesday</u>:</strong> (literature + math) <br />* Parables from Nature: A Lesson in Faith <br />* Aesop’s Fables: ‘The Wolf and the Kid’, ‘Tortoise and the Ducks’ <br />* Just So Stories: Whale <br />* Math Introduction from Make Math Meaningful <br /> <br /><em>**I love the ‘Just So Stories’, they are by Rudyard Kipling – the author of the Jungle Book.</em> <br /> <br /><strong><u>Wednesday</u>:</strong> (geography + history + phonics + math) <br />* Phonics Sounds Book <br />* Our Island Story: Albion and Brutus <br />* Fifty Famous Stories Retold: Sword of Damocles <br />* Paddle to the Sea: chapter 1 <br />* Continued Math Introduction</p> <p><strong><u>Thursday</u>:</strong> (science + copywork) <br />* Handbook of Nature Study: Cats <br />* Copywork: ‘Never let anything turn you from your purpose.’ <br /> <br /><em>**This term is ‘mammals’ and since we have two indoor cats, we spent the day observing them and trying to understand their ‘language’.</em></p> <p><strong><u>Friday</u>:</strong> (art + composer / folk song / nature walk + drawing) <br />* ’Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’ by Albrecht Durer – study in pencil while listening to Beethoven’s ‘Pathetique’. <br />* Played musical instruments along with ‘Waltzing Matilda’ <br />* Nature walk, looked for birds and mammals, brought home a leaf and drew it in pencil. <br /> <br /><em>**When daddy came home, we ended up looking up more music online for ‘Waltzing Matilda’, learned about the song’s origin, and discovered that it is tied into the ‘Man From Snowy River’ movie in the theme song at the end (we picked it out together as we watched it tonight). How neat! Now the kids sing the song every day. <br /> <br /></em><strong><u>Daily Practice:</u></strong></p> <p>* Listen to Beethoven’s symphonies and piano sonatas while doing schoolwork <br />* Bible reading (Old testament – Genesis, the Creation) <br />* Hymn: I am a Child of God <br />* Phonics: post two new word cards on the wall and sight read throughout the day <br />* Spanish: practice one new word each week (this week: ‘Gato’)</p> <p>Phew! :-) How exciting!</p> <p>Now, wouldn’t you believe it? I forgot to purchase printer ink *again*, so I am writing this week’s schedule once more in my notebook. I think I might use this technique each week, even after I print out the lists and whatnot – it helps keep me organized when I can see the week’s selected work jotted down in one place!</p> <p>Hopefully I will remember to divide this coming week’s adventures into a daily post, so I don’t bombard you with one long post like this. *wink*</p> <p>See you again soon!</p> <p><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" border="0" align="left" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-46860000840515685462010-09-10T14:01:00.001-07:002010-09-10T14:01:37.905-07:00Homeschooling<p>I’ve mentioned homeschooling in the past, but I’ve never added much detail to explain what we’re doing.</p> <p>We use what’s called the ‘Charlotte Mason’ method. I could go on and on about her teachings and what my beliefs are…I’m sure I can share those over time. But for now, I’ll link you to <a href="http://amblesideonline.com/" target="_blank">AmblesideOnline</a>. That is a phenomenal website where the curriculum and booklists are all laid out, and there are several free resources online for accessing the reading material. </p> <p>This year, I chose to purchase the books in hard-copy and on our new ‘Kindle’ reader. That is just my personal preference. I love having books in my hand, and for the ones we couldn’t find, the Kindle was the closest thing to it. :-)</p> <p>Anyhow, we started homeschooling on Tuesday after Labor Day. We were going to begin last week, but after I bombed on homeschooling last year I had been holding myself off on planning to the point that it was almost paralyzing. Thankfully I re-gained my confidence and started fresh this week. It has been a lot of fun, and more successful than last year – but I will admit, being a teacher AND a parent (over the same children!) doesn’t go without fault.</p> <p>I will make a second post (soon) and hopefully a fresh post each school day so that we can share what / how we’re teaching our children. :-) I’ll keep sharing family experiences and my little musings too as I can. I sometimes wish my camera was easier to upload pictures from, but I suppose we always want something easier, even when things are already so instant!</p> <p>Talk to you again soon. :-)</p> <p><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" border="0" align="left" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-40162422880673437882010-07-30T11:48:00.001-07:002010-07-30T11:50:38.282-07:00Precious Moments<p align="justify"> </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 369px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:2152b2ea-20e1-4438-8b74-e1dde1300b93" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TFMegB6r0sI/AAAAAAAAC0w/49gUVoh2AlQ/jaycen%20sleeping%207-30-2010%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="361" height="300" /></div> <p align="justify">This is what I woke up to this morning. Jaycen crawls into bed with us and cuddles next to me every morning at about 7am. I couldn’t ask for anything more precious. <br /> <br /><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" border="0" align="left" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-81727831794265204522010-07-29T22:06:00.001-07:002010-07-29T22:06:45.554-07:00Still Here…<p align="justify">I know you’ve heard that before elsewhere, if you followed our last blog, but it’s true this time. Just catching up with myself. Hard to do sometimes!</p> <p align="justify">The week has been a bit crazy. I’ve been overwhelmed with house-keeping and trying to keep my head. Good thing is I’m looking forward to homeschooling this year. I got Brooke excited by showing her one of the art pieces we’ll be studying (we use the Charlotte Mason method for homeschooling). I can’t wait. :-)</p> <p align="justify">I’m listening to KIXI am online right now. It’s all the old classics, like old rock and roll, doo-wop music, things like that. I love it.</p> <p align="justify">I have pictures to share. I just need to upload them. I will keep in touch as I can! I’m sure I’ll have MUCH more to share as the homeschool year kicks in starting September 1st.</p> <p align="justify">Have a lovely Friday/weekend everyone! (hugs) <br /> <br /><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" border="0" align="left" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-53482992738947707372010-07-26T08:57:00.001-07:002010-07-26T08:57:16.651-07:00Dad’s Treasures<p align="justify">Last week sometime, I finally took to the task of transferring all of dad’s belongings that were given to me into plastic storage bins. I didn’t get rid of a single thing…not even his loose pocket change. I’m not ready to do that yet.</p> <p align="justify">I had left all of the boxes in our room since Christmas, all scattered and open with dad’s things sitting there to greet me every morning. It’s been hard. So it was time to go through it and move it.</p> <p align="justify">There was one particular box I hadn’t had the heart to go through yet, which was the last box given to me. As I went through it, I started to notice some really old letters and funny forms…as I looked closer, I realized they were letters home and things (including currency) from his service in Vietnam. I even found a little paper slip for issued bedding, and a large group photo from boot camp, with handwritten names on the back that dad had scribbled out.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 354px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:74bd29be-e764-48bc-acde-42931874944f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TE2wWBLjsBI/AAAAAAAACzw/84TAjAgBatw/SDC10520%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="318" /></div> <p align="justify">I also found an old drawing that I assume was his. The paper was so thin and frail that I had to hold it very carefully to keep from ripping it. </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 354px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:c813ebbe-fd14-490e-b3a9-4edff9fe3c5d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TE2wWugZrPI/AAAAAAAACz0/3IMKmI6CNMk/SDC10524%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="318" /></div> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Dad was an artist, just like his father. It’s something that I was blessed with when I was born, and I am very thankful to carry that with me.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 364px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:8747F07C-CDE8-481f-B0DF-C6CFD074BF67:2f230be9-ae61-48df-88fc-f2ec7e5a8e4d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TE2wW57KzgI/AAAAAAAACz4/oQVgZeTe0Lo/SDC10527%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="356" height="329" /></div> <p align="justify">Of course I found a few more fun pictures…including this one of him cleaning fish in a river. Dad loved ‘roughing’ it. I think if he could, he would have lived in a little cabin in the woods up in Alaska. He loved to fish, carry guns, chop wood for campfires, and play with fireworks (and other explosives, haha). I’m proud to carry that with me. I have always been a tomboy. Even in my moments of feeling girly, I always go back to jeans and t-shirts. </p> <p align="justify">I look forward to teaching our kids how to fish and camp in Alaska someday. I only hope I can do dad’s teachings justice. I might tangle a fishing line or two, but I can’t wait to have the chance to pass his life-loving legacy on. :-) <br /> <br /><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" border="0" align="left" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-690569520242301673.post-12780369259419865112010-07-21T13:58:00.001-07:002010-07-21T13:58:14.795-07:00Trying to Fly<p align="justify"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="kite" border="0" alt="kite" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_VRQJnc7ItM4/TEdfZVoMknI/AAAAAAAACwY/ZJPouNl4EqU/kite%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="262" /> </p> <p align="justify">I’ve been trying to ‘Fly’ in two ways.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>First, with</strong> <strong>Flylady</strong>. If you have no clue what I’m talking about, <a href="http://flylady.net/" target="_blank">‘FlyLady’</a> is a website and email system (and much more) dedicated to helping people get their homes and life in order. And it’s free, which is awesome. I know I’m not the only one out there who feels like a failure with housekeeping…so FlyLady is a priceless gem. I am determined to get the system working for me someday.</p> <p align="justify"><em>(of course, that means I need to let my lower back heal, and stop going hog-wild and re-injuring myself…not even sure what I did, but it’s been going on for 2 weeks, silly me…)</em></p> <p><strong>Second, is letting go.</strong></p> <p align="justify">That’s the hardest thing for me. I remember stuff that happened as far back as Preschool that I still have pangs of guilt for. How funny is that? …but I know I need to not only let go of things I feel bad for, but people. I’ve lost friends and family over the years, some very painful losses, and it’s hard to just let that go. I think that’s where voids come from. We had something special, say a prize rose, and it dies…and we keep the pot. Why? I guess it all leads back to feeling guilty, like we didn’t do enough, or missing what we once had.</p> <p align="justify"><strong>So, I need to fly. We all do. We need to take life like a kite, run with it, and let it go. If you don’t let go, it will never fly…no matter how fast you run.</strong></p> <p align="justify"><em>(yes, I said this on facebook and twitter today, but I can’t help myself! It’s my new outlook! :-)</em></p> <p align="justify">Love you all, *hugs* <br /> <br /><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" border="0" align="left" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/meljen/MDblogsiggie.gif" /></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0