There Was An Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe...

She had so many projects she didn't know what to do. So....she side tracked herself with a fun project that had nothing to do with her kids or Christmas.

I actually started this project several weeks ago, but have put it down then picked it up several times. Some little dolls were floating around in my imagination, but after setting my mind on some little wooden painted dolls, they were no where to be found. I went to several craft stores, but apparently everyone is making little wooden dolls this year. Rather than wait, and seeing that there are millions of dolls in toy boxes everywhere, I decided to put the doll house up on Etsy as it stands - which I might add is very adorable. If someone doesn't snatch it up, I may just use it for my Smurf collection - from when I was little. I have about 74-100 and even a little mushroom house or two. Smurf village for Christmas on the Piano - maybe?

It's Begun!

Winter, Christmas and the present making. Last night we had our first dusting of snow. We woke up to a wonderful gingerbread village dusted with powdered sugar. Yum...maybe there's some baking in my future.

The changing of the seasons can be represented by so many things. Today it was the fresh dusting of snow washing away the last of the sidewalk chalk drawings.

Also in my front yard this morning was my little tree gnome that my Dad and I stuck up there a couple of weeks ago. The sun hits him just right every morning and you can't help but laugh a little when you see him.

We've pulled out all of the warm blankets and have had a couple of cozy nights by the fire, hunkering down for our second winter in the snow. My project list seems to be getting longer and longer, while the supply pile keeps getting higher and higher. I need to get in there and knock out a few projects. This little doll blanket was a fun distraction last night when I should have been working on Christmas presents. I've grown to love the quality of moda fabric, it is so nice to work with. These were a few scrap squares that were already cut. With pre-cut squares and those fun sock monkeys and dots, I just couldn't help myself. It's going up on Etsy later today - maybe some one else will have one less project to make.

Giving Thanks

I love Thanksgiving! It's that time of year to reflect on all of the blessing in our lives. For me, the best part of that reflecting is the realization that most of the things on that list include people and the ways in which they have touched my life. That makes me happy.

The highlights of this last year: Diego broke both of his feet, we moved to another state and further away from our family and friends, Aaron's foot was run over, Josh got hit by a car, I broke my toe, Josh's bike was stolen, Diego lost his job and we had no paycheck for 8 weeks, and we didn't have insurance for months.

The way I see it after reflecting...Diego's feet have both healed and he'll never jump off of a ladder bare foot again. We own our own home! Our children can walk to school or play in a creek. We're further away physically from our family and friends but it has only made us closer and we've made wonderful new friends. After fear of broken bones and surgery, Aaron limped away from the hospital with a bandage and a sore foot - and we had insurance at the time. When Josh was hit by the car (actually a mini van) he and his bike were fine, just a few scratches. My broken toe taught me patients with myself and empathy for others. Diego found Josh's bike! Seriously about 3 months later he saw someone riding it and got it back. Without a paycheck for 8 weeks? We survived on savings and our food storage, how thankful we are that we had it. We were forced to be thrifty and less wasteful - how awesome is that! No major accidents happened while we didn't have insurance.
So, while I look at this picture of a beautiful and thrifted leaf, what I really see are the hands that are holding it.

I am truly thankful in all things - even my trials. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Great Times - Great Finds

This week my parents came for a visit. It was so nice to see them and spend time with them. While the kids were in school and the hubby was at work, we hit all of the local fabric shops and the local thrift store. These are some of my thrift store finds. The larger nesting doll only had two pieces inside that don't fit together, but such a steal for $1. The skier nesting dolls were $2 and every piece is in tact. The largest one has a nose that sticks out. Finally, a pair of mushroom S&P shakers, which I love not just for their cuteness, but because they remind me of my mom -she collects S&P shakers and has hundreds. I also found a picture/painting of a little girl that no one seems to like as much as I do, a garden gnome which is now resting in my tree outside, and a Peanuts thermos from the 70's. Josh asked if was to keep peanuts in? The juicebox generation.

The fabric stores were...well, they were fabric stores! A couple of them are in these really cool old buildings, with basements and second stories. Ah, and all of the yummy quilts on the walls and I even saw an Amy Butler Nappy Bag made up - that was my first Amy Butler experience. I'm finally catching up with you all! I only bought one fat quarter. I know, I know, but I've been trying to use up what I have and have specific christmas presents in mind for that fabric. Plus, my mom came bearing a wonderful gift bag of fabric that she had thinned out of her supply - thanks Mom! Here's where I should thank my Dad too, for letting us drag him around and being such a good sport about it - thanks Dad!

Well off to start the afternoon. I think I might just have Mexican Train withdraws!

I'm Coming Out of the Closet!

I've been busy stocking up my Etsy store for the holidays. There are some new magnet sets and a few sanitary pads -I'm thinking people may wait until after the holidays to buy these, but who knows maybe some of you will get them in your stockings! Ha!

So with that said...I'm coming out of the closet. After many days of research and pondering, asking other people and getting past the ewww factor, I tried the cloth sanitary pads and *love em*! And to be honest, it was quite fun! So there you go, I'm out...

Be the first person to post a comment and I'll send you a free panty liner of your very own!

Have you met Tomaso?

Tomaso is, let's see, how would you put it...our ginormous cat. I tried getting a good picture of him while he was laying in the sun, but he saw the camera and got a little camera shy. He may have been a little self conscious...does this picture make me look fat?

For being so big, he sure can move when being followed by the paparazzi. The other day Sara was bored and I told her she could go play with Tomaso. She said, "I can't. Whenever I try to play with him, he just waddles away."

I tried to get a picture with a frame of reference for size, but he was on the move. The best I could do was get a picture of him in the doorway of Sara's room. I measured him from nose to rear (not including his tail) and he was 24 inches long. Then I decided to weigh him. First I got on the scale and weighed myself...ahhhm...and then I got on the scales with him. I nearly fell and hit the scale and it said E, not a good sign. I finally got on the scale with him and could barely see over him to read the scale. He weighed 20 pounds - is that still considered a cat?

He may be a 20 pound cat, but he's our little Tomassie.