Life on Sandy Point

January Landscapes

2012-01-08T20:24:00.000-06:00

January 5th, 2012 57 degrees!!!

Is it just me or are the sunsets this winter better than usual?

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-30T13:27:00.000-06:00

I think Gracie was in the chocolate!

Hope yours was merry too.

My Poor Neglected Blog

2011-12-30T13:06:00.001-06:00

Here are shots of the Christmas Day sunset. They are not in order and the colors just kept intensifying so I had to keep running back outside to capture as much as I could.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

5th Grade Art

2011-12-16T21:18:00.002-06:00

These turned out awfully cute and I wanted to share them on Pinterest too so I decided to post here so I could pin them. Kind of crazy. The one on the top is my very favorite, she actually braided the paper, isn't that creative? She also did plaid mittens and a hat. After so many years of teaching first and second grade, 5th graders impress me! What might take 2 hours or more in first grade can take 20 mn and that's about how long it took us to make these.

This is the big window in our school's commons area. The Christmas concert is on Monday and these will be perfect. I found the music paper in the recycled paper box in the copy room and turns out they were the 5th grade Christmas songs so I had to make these. I got the idea from Shari's Pinterest craft category. If you aren't into Pinterest yet, what are you waiting for?!

Outdoor decorating

2011-11-27T15:12:00.001-06:00

I added ornaments, lights and deer to the little tree out front this year. The ornaments are the plastic variety from the BB.

November Sunsets 2011

2011-11-27T15:07:00.001-06:00

This photo is a mid Nov sunset

This and the following were just a couple of days ago, there was a fire and the smoke enhanced the color.

The reflection in the windows was pretty too!

Thanksgiving in Sioux Falls

2011-11-27T14:53:00.001-06:00

Four generations-Tim, Tyler, Tanner and Jim

It was a beautiful sunny day, almost 60 degrees so some of us went for a few walks around the block.

Tanner is very fun to hold-very sweet little guy! He has a cute little mohawk!

Kenzley loved her walk, she's wearing the kitty hat I found for her at the BB.

The walkers stop for a photo-op.

Meanwhile back in the kitchen, Deb is working hard at the dishes.

It was a wonderful meal, turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole and so much more!

Finally Deb gets to rest!

Uncle Dan and Tanner

2011-11-27T14:52:00.001-06:00

Christmas and other decorating

2011-11-13T19:36:00.001-06:00

Vintage map snowflakes

The paper snowflakes are made from old maps. I needed to add them because the birds crash into windows. This morning a big downy woodpecker crashed as it was evading a predator bird.

We bought new lights at Fleet Farm the other night and put them on a dusk til whenever timer. It works well.

Birdwatching

2011-11-13T19:32:00.001-06:00

November Skies

2011-11-13T18:13:00.001-06:00

Playing Photographer over MEA

2011-10-30T21:42:00.001-06:00

Too bad the sun was in their eyes causing a bit of squinting. The colors
they are wearing work well with the old wood.

That's Nancy and Sophie with Dad.

More sun issues here but kind of a fun shot.

Never mind that it's a manure spreader!
We did it just for fun.

What are we sitting on, Sophie? I don't know, Carly.

Cyrus Hayride

2011-10-30T21:28:00.000-06:00

Royce took the kids out for a hayride.
Paul is hunting ducks in the background.

Silhouette of the farm just before sunset.

Love this photo! It was taken up in the old cow pasture and you can see the farm-site in the background.

Showing off their new shirts from Auntie Lynn!

Summer's Last Blooms

2011-10-30T21:14:00.002-06:00

I cut these a couple of weeks ago and placed them in spots where we'd see them lots; the bathroom and kitchen sink.

These are gone too now. Don't you just hate seeing your summer plants die?
Winter is a couple months too long for me.

A couple of late tomatoes with Mom's canned carrots. Aren't they pretty?
The cat was a summer rummage sale find. I was going to give her away but she grew on me.

My favorite variety of pansy.

Add caption

Good finds and crafting

2011-10-30T20:46:00.000-06:00

Mar-Crest Stoneware $3, with candle warmer, nice fall color and it's in amazing condition. I wasn't sure if it was old or new until I googled it when I got home. It goes for around $20 on Ebay.

A little kitty hat for Kenzley, also found at the BB.

Making felt flower creations for our classroom fundraiser for the Humane Society.

The middle 3 are headbands, others will be pins. Super simple if you don't mind a hot glue gun.

I love this sweet little lamp base, $1.50 at the BB, lampshade confiscated from the upstairs guest bedroom.

Mid-October, Really?!?

2011-10-13T21:39:00.000-06:00

Hard to believe, but true! School has been keeping me very busy and the weeks are just flying by.

I found a way to incorporate my crow puppet into the seasonal decorating. He may need to come to school for a spooky poem or story soon.

I bought these harvest pictures at a rummage sale near Barrett this summer. Not sure where the pic's are from though. I love the horses in the picture below, also note the guy on top of the thresher in his overalls.

Look at the ladies on the left, I bet they brought out a good lunch.

I found these Waverly drapes at the BB for $3. I like the yellow with the green walls.

Here are some fancy headbands I made this evening. They're for the classroom sale to support the humane society. Some of the kids have been using their noon hour to make some beaded jewelry to sell. The sale will be at school in a few weeks. The flower on the top left is my first attempt at a fabric flower. It was super easy. Kris, I used some of the material I bought at your sale. Bigger ones would make nice pins and tiny ones would work well on barrettes for little girls. The feather band on the right is my favorite feather headband, made from pheasants. I think this bag came from Paul or Royce. They are SO easy, just some hot glue and then I had some button type decor purchased from the dollar store to finish them off.

I realize that was a very random post but those were the newest pictures off my camera so I just went with it! Have a good weekend! Laurie

2011-09-20T20:51:00.003-06:00

One of my favorite pictures this summer

Around the House in September

2011-09-20T20:15:00.000-06:00

Fall decorating on the table

And a little more in this corner

A new kitchen light from Lowes finally got me to paint the ceilings in the kitchen and living room.

Everything looks brighter and I'm glad I finally tackled the project.

However, I don't think I will ever paint another ceiling again.

A fresh ceiling and new bird picture.

This little guy was crying under the deck in the cabin. I was moving plants on the night the temps dropped into the twenties. His eyes were totally matted up but when I called he came running right to me. I couldn't just leave him down there so I cleaned him up and luckily the Humane Society had room for him after I paid a little donation to their very worthy organization.

POSH Chicago

2011-09-08T21:31:00.000-06:00

I just ran across this picture from POSH in Chicago.
I've been here in person and it's one of the prettiest shops I've ever been in.

Fargo has direct flights to Chicago now. It's a great place to head to for long weekend getaway. Very tempting to go back with a one hour flight and now just a 75 mn car trip.

Summer Blooms

2011-09-08T21:22:00.000-06:00

All the coleus I purchased in Jackson is doing great!

I broke the bowl of the bird bath years ago.
Just came up with the idea to put a pot on it this summer.

More coleus. They guy I bought it from says it's easy to save and root. Might be easier just to buy from him again next spring. It was super cheap for coleus and it took off in a flash. Not the geraniums though, they're slow and I'm definitely going to try to save them because they're very unique and pretty.

2011-09-06T20:39:00.002-06:00

Finally, Blogger is letting me use the new format that I use with my school blog. Guess they figured the old users would not want to change but this is so much better.

The picture on the left was purchased at the BB. It's pretty large. The funny thing is that exactly one day before I bought it, I admired the exact print at the Vet Clinic. I paid $12 for it at the BB which is a lot for them but still a steal for a large framed picture that is totally my style.

I have glued candlesticks to plates before to make a cake stand. But a picture from Pottery Barn inspired me to glue one on a large candy jar. It is almost identical to theirs, except theirs was $39 and mine was $1.50.

Inspiration Peak

2011-09-06T20:10:00.002-06:00

I could sit up here for hours....

Dan and Mike

The Hallorans came up this weekend. It was a beautiful and chilly weekend, perfect for a hike up to Inspiration Peak. Our first trip there this summer and we usually get there once a summer. It always fun to go with someone who's never been up there before and this was the case with the Hallorans.

The twins are in first grade now. One had a splint and the other a walking cast so tubing was not an option even if the weather would have allowed.

I should have made Dan take his glasses off so we could see his pretty brown eyes.

Danette and I had a great time on Saturday thrifting at the Bargain Bazaar and then scored at a big antique rummage sale nearby. I love this time of year. If only fall could last a little longer than it usually does. Maybe this year. We have a TON of acorns dropping this year, more than ever before. I'm going to google what that means. I'll let you know.... That reminds me I'm trying out a new acorn and wool craft. Should be able to finish it this weekend and will post.

I should also mention that today was just a fantastic first day of school. One of the smoothest I think I've ever had. I hope this is a sign of things in store for the year. However, I am reminded how fast the day goes when I'm at school and there aren't enough hours left in the day for all the other things I like to do, like sit around and drink coffee for an hour or more thinking about what I might do. :) Just in case you are thinking I am totally lazy, I did get the ceilings painted in the kitchen and dining room last week. We had to put a new light fixture in the kitchen and that was my impetus. It looks much brighter now. Will post a photo eventually. Good night!

Feeling Crafty...

2011-09-06T20:02:00.002-06:00

I bought three small bags of felt this summer for less than $3 total and recently found a tutorial for these flowers on Pinterest. I made a green one too. I think they would be cute on headbands for little girls or bags for big girls. They are very easy and I plan to try one with regular fabric maybe a print. Cutting and glue gun was all that was required.
The felt flowers are glued on the back and came from the dollar store in a packet of goodies. There are metal flowers that are bunched together for three dimensional look in front. Just something new I tried, inspired by a picture in a magazine. It's small, 3x5.

Back to School

2011-08-26T10:07:00.002-06:00

It's just around the corner! We had workshops and open house this week. I met almost all of my 27 students and their families last night. 26 in fact and the one who couldn't make it let me know ahead of time and hope to come in next week sometime. That is a great sign of things to come this year. I must be getting used to 5th graders after two years because I thought most of them looked so little! They do grow up quite a bit in 5th but at this point I am still taller than all of them I believe. I have a very good feeling about this group!

Random pictures

2011-08-13T13:14:00.002-06:00

I was taking pictures of the pretty flowers and Big Kitty decided she should be included.
We've had a couple of 3 inch downpours this summer It all flows down Sandy Point and fills in down here. It doesn't go into their cabin luckily. We've been fine, it just gets very mucky.
Shari, Paul & Nancy ran in Flekkefest this summer. Nancy won her age group and was the second woman over all. She's training for the Twin Cities Marathon in October. Quite an amazing feat I think!
Sophie and Carly pose with Daphne in her cute little life jacket.

Sophie & Carly fishing-no luck.

Stuff I've been buying

2011-08-13T12:54:00.002-06:00

This is a stock photo that is nearly identical to my rummage sale find over Flekkefest. It's a Franklin Covey rolling laptop bag/organizer. Mine has one big pocket on the side not two. Dan was very impressed with it and thought it was for him. I will let him borrow it. :) So, I got it for $2 and it's currently selling for anywhere up to $150 online.
Here are my birthday cowboy boots. I can't wait to wear them somewhere.

I found one of these wire skirt hangers and it's a very handy organizer. I know a couple of people who are looking for them so if you have one you don't want or spy one at a rummage sale, please buy it for $1 or less.
The wood cubby/organizer was purchased last week at the Bargain Bazaar for $5. They sell something similar at Pottery Barn for a lot more. It's on a side table in the DR for now. If you are on my FB page you know that I am trying to get the painted floral trim off the top edge. I have been rubbing it with alcohol and that is taking a lot of the paint off but it takes awhile.
I am SOOO happy with this Descoware pot!! It had no handle and they wanted $1 for it at the BB. Someone said it might make a nice dog dish. I had never heard of it before and it says made in Belgium on the bottom. I researched and found that it was a popular item with Julia Child and the company was taken over by Le Crueset in the 1970s. I've used it three times and it cooks like a dream! I hope I can find more. They are not very common but I would like to have a 11 inch skillet and maybe a larger pot. Ebay has them. I had a broomstick in the garage and it had a threaded end that fit perfectly in this pot. I cut it down and sanded it a bit and it's great!!

Items found and created

2011-08-01T16:22:00.002-06:00

I rescued this from the dumpster, any creative ideas for its use? It's sitting on the floor in my pantry presently, holding extra bags and some food. It doesn't really fit in there so I'm trying to think of something else.
Last week I was just delighted to find this book at the Fergus Goodwill. I even paid $1.99 for it, which is high for a thrift store book. It's about a woman who reads to a bear in the woods and even though he doesn't understand the words, he loves being read to and she loves reading aloud. The message is the joy reading aloud and being read to brings to anyone. I will be reading this one to my 5th and 6th graders and will join the other picture books I leave out just for fun.
Look at the beautiful illustrations. When I was paging through it on the way home in the car, Dan even commented on how nice it was.

Here's my most recent mini clipboard re-do. I was lucky to find a pack of Amy Butler paper at the dollar store, it was more than a dollar but very worth it as I just love her style.

Approaching storm

2011-07-18T22:05:00.003-06:00

Another big storm came through on Sunday night and this is what it looked like about 30 mn before it hit us. Just a little rain this time and short period of strong winds, no damage and very few sticks to pick up.

Lamp shade re-do

2011-07-18T21:54:00.002-06:00

I decided that the phone area could use a little light and had this light fixture from somewhere. I found a lamp shade for $1, but it was a little too big. So I measured two inches from the bottom and cut the bottom portion off. I saved the rim for a future project to be posted at some point.
I used some vintage green crocheted trim and two rows of tiny ric-rac in green and yellow. Then added a flower feather thingy from the $ store, which can be easily removed if I tire of it. And this is what she looks like now. The entire project including the lamp base was probably $3.

Bad Blogger

2011-07-17T14:31:00.002-06:00

Sorry I have been neglecting my blog lately. I probably have no followers anymore! I snapped this photo on the way to Shirley's Bday party as I loved the patterns in the countryside. This says summer to me. It smelled really good out there too! If you are reading this that means you are still checking in with me, thank you for your patience!

A new niece on the 4th of July!

2011-07-17T14:24:00.002-06:00

July 3rd, 2011

July 5th, 2011

Kenzley Reagan Heath was born on July 4th at 7am.

Missy

2011-07-17T14:12:00.004-06:00

Tim & Emily's new puppy is such a sweetie. We have so many nice dogs in our circle of family and friends, if we didn't have such a large herd of cats maybe we could have one. ;)

Chicken Shot

2011-07-17T14:07:00.002-06:00

I posted a bunch of chicken pictures from Kris's flock and thought I would share just my favorite here. Kris I'm down to my last dozen eggs so if your hens are still laying in the oppressive heat let me know and I'd love to pick again. Does the heat slow them up? I would think so. This hen is so striking, does she have a name, Kris?

Shirley's Birthday

2011-07-17T13:59:00.003-06:00

It was Shirley's 81st birthday a few weeks ago and she posed for me under her beautiful rose arbor. It's been a few years since I have attended her birthday lunch and it was a very nice afternoon.

Three generations

Here's the birthday tag I made for Shirley's gift.

Fourth of July Humor

2011-07-17T13:52:00.002-06:00

Our cabin neighbors two doors down have a funny sense of humor. They cleaned out the top of their hill lot to create more parking and tenting space for all the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Nobody actually slept up on the hill because of the storm on the 4th but hope to in the future. One of the daughters explained that in their family they call Sandy Point, "old money" the golf course area is "new money"so this hilltop was named "no money hill."

Red!!!

2011-06-20T17:29:00.003-06:00

A bit of red caught my eye this morning....

He stayed long enough for me to snap a few pictures.

We had a few cardinals for a few years but it's been a couple years since we have had regular visitors. I hope this one has a mate with a nest somewhere. I could hear him singing all afternoon in the woods behind our house but only saw him for a couple of minutes.

June Blooms

2011-06-20T17:20:00.002-06:00

Peony season just does not last long enough....

I don't have enough sun to grow zinnias so I cheated and bought these already blooming zinnias. I'll do my best to keep them in sunshine and keep them blooming as long as possible. I just love zinnias, found these in Battle Lake a couple weeks ago for just $1 per round pot.

A Visitor

2011-06-18T14:19:00.002-06:00

Hmmm, who's that in the front yard?

He strolled into the back and knows he's being watched.

Luckily, he didn't seem interested in the hostas.

In this picture you can see all the hostas are doing well in their new home under the pine. I'm going to add some impatiens (for the rabbits to eat) a little more mulch and it will be done.

Thrifting/Antiquing Finds/Letters

2011-06-15T20:29:00.008-06:00

I had a fun day of thrift/antique stores & lunch with Karen in Fergus. When I got home this letter from a former first grader (now going into 4th) just made my day. At the beginning he states that he is "bored already and remembered that I said I would always write back to anyone who wrote to me." Isn't that cute? His entire letter is just too precious. You should click on it to enlarge it and read.
Onto letters of a different kind; if you go to the Bargain Bazaar you will see this new sign on the door. The first one I made has faded and is weather damaged. They asked if I would make a new one and maybe laminate it this time. Of course I said I would and I was at the Dollar Store in Alex before our book club movie the other night and spied the perfect paper that would make the sign making a cinch. So here's the front/back and I added a little paper in-between for durability and will laminate it tomorrow. Shari, I was SO tempted to add (Sorry if that makes you sad.) after the closed, remember that little child-made sign in Ely? That was so cute.
So, back to thrifting with Karen. It was a really nice way to spend a rainy afternoon and I really hope that we will do that more often. We both found some fun things and Karen is now a full convert to thrift stores, not that we are boycotting antique stores or anything. I love this platter, the pattern and the large rectangular shape unlike most of my oval platters. I thought I was done buying them but I guess not!
I knew it would be nice for appetizers but wasn't sure where I would store it. I placed it on the stove and realized it looked nice with my relatively new teapot from the BB, that was just $1. The platter was $5 and that tiny little silver piece was just 50 cents from the BB. I thought it would be good for rings but it is just the right size for little candles.
This stitched cardinal piece was just 50 cents from the SA in Fergus. I love it and think I may need to make a pillow from it or maybe just frame it. Karen bought a lovely stitched basket with flowers that is perfect for her since she is a basket person. She plans to make a pillow with hers too. I should have taken pictures while we were thrifting, next time!
This is something I found thrifting with Mom, Shari, Ellen & Carly last week at Goodwill. The silver dish was 50 cents and the glass dome was $1. They are not a set but work together perfectly. You can see that I made biscotti this morning. I needed to warm the house up a bit, isn't that crazy?
This is a fairly large stepping stool and it seems that I can't resist them when they are priced at $5 or less. You can use them for so many things and this one is definitely durable enough for stepping although it might hold books & magazines. There's a new (Nov. 2010) antique store in Fergus that is owned by a recently retired FF teacher. It's right downtown near the river and railroad tracks, on North Cascade I think. LOTS of neat stuff there and fairly reasonable too. Sorry, I don't remember the name. Do you Karen? I should have grabbed a card.

Sunday

2011-06-12T11:44:00.002-06:00

Well, I'm trying to! I've been working on the new hosta bed under the big pine. The first step was to pull over 100 little buckthorn seedlings, evil things. It's best to pull them from the roots while you can otherwise you will battle them forever cutting and spraying. Then I dug up and split a variety of hostas and dug new holes under the pine. It was a cool sunny day for working and the evening was just beautiful. Today I'm moving bark from our mulch pile and spreading that around. Some of the hostas are rather droopy looking but they'll pop back soon and very soon I will have an after picture for you.

Dan is a very good painter so when he's in the mood to paint it's a good thing. I kept busy digging new hosta holes, that's what I'm good at. :) I haven't killed one anyway.

Isn't this a nifty idea??

Leaving you with a lovely scene found online.

Corgi Love

2011-06-11T20:23:00.003-06:00

Here's a picture of Shari with her new baby, Daphne. This picture captures how much they love each other. Isn't it sweet?

Speaking of sweet, Carly enjoy her new puppy too!

Here she comes!

There they go! Isn't that cute little Corgi butt?!

Sorry, Ellen, the pictures I took of you with Daphne are on my phone and I haven't downloaded them yet. I'm sure I will post the one of you with her in the back seat!

Chickadee sketch

2011-06-11T20:06:00.002-06:00

Years ago, 10 maybe, I found this unframed chickadee sketch at a rummage sale for a dollar or so and I finally found the perfect frame for it. Dan and I were cleaning out his Fergus office early this spring and there was a framed document that he didn't want so I took it. It was the perfect size for this little chickadee. Shari noticed it this week and thought the matting complemented it nicely too. Whoever drew this captured the delightful spirit of the chickadee and that's why I love it. It sits just under the fireplace mantel.

Before Shot

2011-06-11T11:14:00.003-06:00

This is kind of a before picture as it's just after Dan trimmed the lower branches that have been dying for some unknown reason in the last few years. They used to be full and healthy. Dan suspects the spraying in the ditches every year, but who knows. The top broke off in a storm a few years ago and that may have stressed the tree too. Anyway, I'm going to do a little gardening under this tree and when it's finished I'll post a new picture. I already hung up a cute birdhouse that Shari found for me at the Pengilly rummage sales with the help of her friend Carol.

Random pictures

2011-06-11T11:00:00.003-06:00

Daphne coming & going!

(The Clusiau's new Corgi)

Carly in one of Ellen's hand-me-down dresses.

Isn't it pretty on her?

It's a miracle-the sink is empty!! Actually it's a picture to show how the old schoolhouse light works in this area. It's fun when purchases like that work out and it took less than a year to get it in place-not bad.

I think the white lilacs are my favorite.

Remembering Patty....

2011-06-06T21:59:00.002-06:00

This post is for my cousin Patty Plessner Ruth who passed away early Friday morning. She was only 45 years old. I have many happy childhood memories that involve Patty including swimming at the Madison pool, mud pies & oil soup, playing cafe in our kitchen/dining room, three-wheeling, visits to your family cabin on Pomme De Terre-learning to waterski & kick the can, embarrassing Kristi and her date by wearing her bras over our clothes, and spinning so hard on the mini merry-go-rounds at the Hoffman school that somebody even peed in their pants. Our moms were not pleased. You had a lot of fun ideas and many of our antics resulted in getting in trouble after Karen reported us! I am so sorry that you died so young and that your family is heartbroken. You raised two beautiful, smart daughters and I know how proud you were of them. You were a cherished wife, daughter, sister and of course a cousin to so many of us. I picture you in heaven with Grandma Anderson and that brings me some peace. Thank you for being a very special cousin and playmate. We will miss you.

Summer...

2011-06-02T20:08:00.003-06:00

Well, I'm officially off the school clock for the year but I will need to return tomorrow for a few hours. I had some last minute drama with our grading system this afternoon but was able to get the job done the old fashioned way for the cumulative grades. We went until 11:15 with students this morning, a potluck and then meetings until 2pm. So not a lot of time for other essentials but enough whining. I get it all done tomorrow. It's hard to believe that the year is actually over. It was a good year and they always seem to go extra fast. I should mention that I got my 25 year pin today-yikes!!! I was the only one at that level and Louisa got her 30, none higher than that, she seemed shocked too. It will be 5 years before I suffer that embarrassment again. I know I should just be proud of it but it's hard not to feel old. :)
I love old maps and have used them for bulletin boards but never considered them for wallpaper. I like it in a small area.

This is pretty too, like a patchwork quilt.

Raise your hand if you love these linens!!!

Have a lovely weekend!

Graduation parties will take up a large share of mine.

Vintage Lighting

2011-05-29T21:34:00.002-06:00

Last summer, I went to an estate sale just down the road and found some fun stuff. I bought this fixture and wasn't sure if I would be able to use it or not but thought for a couple of bucks it was worth the risk. So, 10 months later, we had an electrician coming over so I set this out and asked him to put it up above the kitchen sink if possible. Well, it was a piece of cake I guess and it works perfectly with our cabinets and everything else really. It's fun when things work out that way.

Finally spring!

2011-05-22T10:37:00.002-06:00

The pansies love the cooler temps.

My favorite variety

The primrose are very healthy this year.

Last year I planted this window box late so this year it was the first planter I filled.

I haven't put in many flowers yet but I have been planting my herbs, lettuce, onions & spinach in pots. It's coming up so quickly, can't wait to eat my own homegrown salads. I will plant my other window box on the house this afternoon and then I really should clean/organize the potting shed corner of our garage. I've neglected it for a couple of years. It's been raining most of the morning here.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T16:42:00.002-06:00

Happy Mother's Day to my two favorites!

I am very blessed.

Happy Mother's Day to all my blog readers who are moms too!

Rhubarb Nut Bread

2011-05-08T16:22:00.004-06:00

As I am writing this, my rhubarb bread is just finishing up in the oven. It smells especially good as it's the first thing I've made with rhubarb this season. I had some sad rhubarb plants growing to the south of the garage that didn't get enough sun so I moved them down by the cabin. It's been 2 or 3 years and this year they are finally taking off. I did read it can take awhile. Junior has the world's best rhubarb plant down there so I thought it had to be a good spot. Here's my very favorite rhubarb recipe:

Rhubarb Nut Bread

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2/3 cup oil (I sub. half with applesauce)

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

Mix all of the above-add:

2 1/2 cups of flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

Mix that gently on top and then fold in with bottom-it's the efficient way.

Next add:

1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt

1 1/2 cups diced rhubarb

1/2 cup chopped walnuts/pecans

Topping:

2 T white sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup pecans/walnuts-if desired

The real directions say to spray 2 loaf pans and bake for 55-65 mn. I use an old fashioned muffin pan and the rest goes in my Scandinavian fluted pan and I reduce the time. Then I don't have such a hard time getting it done in the middle. I have this issue with most of my dessert breads.

"Tis the Season

2011-05-08T16:07:00.002-06:00

It finally seems to be safe to start planting. This year I am hoping to plant herbs again and even more lettuce than I ever have before. Yesterday, I planted 3 planters with a variety. I tried planting some of the little scallions too, we'll see how that goes. My kitchen window boxes are full of impatiens and begonias in pinks, reds and white, with some ivy. The stone planters will be full of pansies. That's all I have so far and it doesn't seem so late after all.

Yummy!!

2011-05-08T16:00:00.005-06:00

Caldrea has another scent at Target and I think it's just perfect for spring. It's called "Hibiscus Yuzu" and I wouldn't know what that smells like but it also says mandarin-lime on the label and that gives you a better idea. I sprayed the kitchen counter and stove with it and Dan wondered what smelled like oranges, so that is the predominate fragrance. It makes me want to clean and that's always a good thing!

Bellagio Conservatory

2011-04-17T20:37:00.005-06:00

In the Bellagio lobby

In the conservatory

Pink poppies!!!

It's beautiful in the Bellagio conservatory this spring-here's the glowing greenhouse which featured live butterfly gardens inside, you could walk through. Click on this one to appreciate.

Herons outside-just like in Minnesota.

Just outside the conservatory, notice all the pussy willows. Pretty sure they don't grow anywhere in Las Vegas.

A magical promenade!

There was a ferris wheel and a carousel too.

I'm glad we went at night, the lighting was so pretty.

Encore!

2011-04-17T20:09:00.002-06:00

Our view: straight ahead and down below.

We could easily see how fast the pool areas were filling up!

On the way to the buffet! (above)

Beautiful walkways inside the casino.

We went to Sinatra's Come Dance with Me. They set Frank's voice to a live orchestra and dancers and it was a lively, impressive show. The guy in this poster reminded us of David. The neat thing is that we walked right by Steve Wynn before the performance. I noticed him first as I had just been watching him in our room while getting ready on the hotel channel. He ended up sitting in the front row at the show, with a pretty young blonde. Steve Wynn is the owner of the Encore/Wynn. He also created Bellagio and other hotels in Vegas, plus a new one in Macau, islands somewhere, not sure. Anyway, they put on a great show and I guess if your boss was in in the front row, you would too. :)

Vegas-Encore

2011-04-17T20:00:00.002-06:00

Check in! The background looks like a collection of vintage brooches.

This tilework mosaic is stunning-it's on the wall on the way to the Wynn.

The tile work on the floor is gorgeous and features butterflies and flowers, so pretty!

Fur-Comparison shopping

2011-04-17T19:44:00.003-06:00

You've seen these furs before on my blog. I purchased all three for less than $10 at the Salvation Army in Fergus. They have satin lining and the red one has a little hook and eye closure.
So, we were in Las Vegas for fun a couple of weeks ago and this window at Oscar De la Renta stopped me dead in my tracks. It is in the Wynn/Encore passage-way shops. I had to know how much they were asking so I went inside and had someone helping me within 10 seconds because you rarely see people inside these shops. The guy asked if I'd like to try it on and of course I did. I noticed that it had a silk or satin lining and hook and eye closure just like one of my furs does. It had a ribbon tie that I thought was very pretty and I believe he said it was mink. I took a look at the price tag and it was $3,000!!
The fur that Shari has on is the most similar to this one. I will probably take the red bow off of it. Sometimes I do wear these at home, when it's really cold it's kind of cozy to have one around your shoulders. They also look nice on wool coats with plain collars, maybe my leather coat too.

April 16th Snow!!

2011-04-16T11:56:00.002-06:00

Trying to find some beauty in the new snow...

The sun is out this afternoon, so it can't last long.

The ice is out across the lake and around the edges over here.

Little Dutch shoes from the Bargain Bazaar.

I had to buy them for $1. We'd like to go to Amsterdam someday.

Library Bake Sale

2011-04-06T20:15:00.003-06:00

It's the Library-a-thon this Friday. I didn't bring anything last year and felt guilty, so this year I made my usual donation; biscotti. I used the little wax paper bags and made the biscotti smaller so it would fit. I showed Dan when I had them all displayed properly and he asked, "Are you going to blog that?" So, here it is. Hopefully they will all sell.

Fun at State BB

2011-03-27T20:43:00.003-06:00

Congratulations on a great season, Coach Flom!

Let's zoom in on that fun shot!

Eden Prairie BB-State Tourney!

2011-03-25T20:18:00.004-06:00

We're all excited here about David's team making it to the the State AAAA championship game! Catch them on CH 45 at 8pm and look for the guy pictured above! :) Nancy's husband of course. We are very proud of David and his team. Dan got to watch them beat Lakeville South while he was in Mpls on Wed. Last night we watched them beat Osseo on TV and are hoping that they will beat Hopkins for a second time for the State Championship on Saturday. Last year they earned 4th place and this is David's 5th year as head coach. Whatever happens, it's going to be a great night! I'll be snapping some photo's and will share some here.

Last couple of weeks

2011-03-25T19:40:00.006-06:00

We had another snow day on Wed, yawn, which means my Easter vacation is now shortened to 3 days. I got revenge on winter anyway by putting away all my warm winter sweaters. I'll get by. The great blue herons are back so I know spring is just around the corner....
Vintage shopping-you never know what you will find and when I spotted this spotted purse at the Goodwill in Fergus I thought of Sarah and bought it just in case. As soon as she put it on her shoulder I knew I was right! I love this purse and it is much better on a 19 year old shoulder than mine. :) Sarah loves it too, so it has a great home. The spots are all flaps so it moves a little, very fun.
So.....onto stuff for me, I stopped at the BB tonight on the way home as it's been a whole week since I've been there and scored on this Talbots top for only 75 cents!!! Yes, you read that correctly, Charice. I think it will be great with white capris and shorts, jeans too. Also is a good school shirt which is always a bonus. I have been using loads of self tanner lotion and you cannot tell from this picture, that's for sure. I hate late winter white skin. I am tempted to get another body spray before Vegas but cannot deal with the orange palms, hands and feet. I won't lay in the "cancer chamber" either so the lotion is my best shot this spring.
And now, my favorite find of the day, my Mexican inspired handmade shirt for just $1. It's colors caught my eye and then the handmade stitching, not only in the front but a little in the back too. Zoom in, it's a blanket stitch! Think jean capris with cute sandals and a Corona with a lime. I wonder who made it? I hope they'd be happy knowing that it's very much admired and appreciated by its current owner. I'm off to apply more tanning lotion to my arms, but not my knuckles. Yikes!

2011-03-12T19:12:00.001-06:00

So Much for March...

2011-03-12T18:55:00.004-06:00

We had a blizzard on Friday night and awoke to this. There is supposed to be a sidewalk here.

The strange white shapes are the evergreens in my window box.

Notice that the snow covers the trunks on the north west side. It was pretty windy out there.

Snow covered light

I don't know if I've ever had so much snow in my window box!

It's getting a little depressing.

On a positive note, the oak buds are thick, spring will win.

Yippee for March!

2011-02-28T19:04:00.003-06:00

Aren't you glad....

it's March?!

I am!!

Jasmine Tea

2011-02-28T18:53:00.004-06:00

I've always enjoyed Jasmine Tea but haven't had it for quite a while. I bought the Good Earth variety pictured below from Dean's in town and have been drinking it at home and at school. I started at school as I was nursing a sore throat last week. Anyway, I remembered that Becky told me her doctor said everyone, especially women, should drink Jasmine tea, so I googled it and it does appear to be quite a healthy drink. Just wanted to pass that along to all my blogging friends. Click right HERE to read about the many benefits, including its wonderful floral smell which is a stress reducer on its own. Dig it out of your cupboards or add it to your shopping list!

Pretty Kitchens

2011-02-28T18:42:00.005-06:00

Most of these photo's came from Scandinavian blogs, starting to like their style more and more.

The floral print is so pretty tucked in here.

I love the little yellow skirt on this chair. My cats wrecked the last slipcovers I made, these might not be so tempting without the top part to stretch and scratch on.

A skirted sink gets me every time, love this color combo. It's a warm cozy look.

This is probably a laundry room but close enough!

Another pretty skirt and fun color.

2011-02-26T20:21:00.000-06:00

For lovers of red...

2011-02-26T20:16:00.001-06:00

No red here but love this style.

Recent BB Finds

2011-02-26T20:09:00.002-06:00

This handmade cardigan sweater was $1. I thought twice about buying it but am so glad that I did. I'm wearing it as I'm blogging this. I think it would be fun to wear with my old boots.
Today I brought in two full bags of items to donate and brought home just a very little bag. Honest! I was excited to find this long sleeved tshirt, even if it was a little worn. It will be a good gardening shirt this spring and only 50 cents!!

2011-02-26T20:05:00.000-06:00

Joey, all tuckered out after a fun day of skiing.

Grandma & Sophie

Just some very pretty rooms...

2011-02-20T19:24:00.001-06:00

My latest obsession...

2011-02-20T19:18:00.002-06:00

Old hangers with fabric or yarn, if you find some of this variety, and they are 50 cents or less, I will buy them from you. I really love them and often find them at the Salvation Army in Fergus. Someone else must love them too as I don't find them as often or maybe I just bought them all. :) The pictures in this post are not mine, but are very similar.

Stormy Day

2011-02-20T19:07:00.002-06:00

Another stormy day in Minnesota-perfect for staying under the cozy blankets or baking something yummy. Tonight we are having the salmon chowder that Royce and family gave us at Christmas. I think Mom and Dad are having theirs tonight too. It seems like the perfect kind of day to have it.

I have tomorrow off as a comp day for parent teacher conferences.

Nancy and kids, Mom and Dad left last night to avoid the storm instead of going this morning. Good to know that everyone is home safe. Kind of a lazy day around here, could be more of the same tomorrow except that Dan will be working so no internet for me. It's not a bad thing.

Good night-stay warm!

Saturday Skiing at Andes

2011-02-20T18:56:00.002-06:00

Joey and Sophie are just learning how to ski! Nancy and the kids came up on Friday and we spent Saturday on the slopes. It was a beautiful day to ski and have fun with the kids. They are doing just great.

Sophie & Joey

I haven't taken many pictures with my new Droid phone camera but I can send them via email now, one step at a time. I'm pleased with the image quality and very pleased that it's easy to store them with my other images on the computer. The view is great at the top of the hill. You can see that Sophie and Joey had a fun day by the smiles on their faces.

Nancy and the kids all decked out in their ski-wear.

Another lovely view.

Happy Valentine's Weekend!

2011-02-11T20:18:00.002-06:00

We didn't have our party today, like the 6th grade did, we're waiting until the REAL day on Monday. My students planned another fun party. It's our last official class party. Our last conference was just wrapped up this past Monday. It's nice to have them done with.
I love these old fashioned cookies, what are they called?? I have these little pastry bags, purchased about 200 or more at a rummage sale many years ago. I rarely see them. Does anyone know where I can purchase them when I run out?

This little wall collage is just my cup of tea!

Vintage cookbooks, garlic?, and rosemary in a hobnail cup-sigh.....

Ice "Damns"

2011-02-11T20:12:00.003-06:00

Here's an educational post for all of you. We are battling ice damns at our house. I know that's not how it's spelled, but it should be. Last weekend's warm temp's brought water dripping into our house in two different locations. On Sunday morning, we must have shoveled 2 tons of snow off the north side of the house where most of our issues seem to be. Last night, I purchased a roof rake and even though it was almost $50, Dan thought it was worth the money, and a safer option too I suppose. Tonight after school, we chipped away at the ice and removed quite a bit. With warmer temp's ahead of us, we're trying to stay ahead of the game.

I think that if we ever build a house (doubtful) it will have a metal roof!

Avocado Mask

2011-01-25T19:35:00.004-06:00

Tonight I used an avocado in my lettuce salad and noticed there was still some very dark green pulp clinging to the skin. Instead of tossing it out, I was able to scoop out about a tablespoon that was moist and suitable for mask material. You don't need to waste an entire avocado for a mask. Last summer I had one that was beyond eating and it was WAY more than I needed. So back to my mask, I put the green pulp in my hand and added about 1/2 tsp of olive oil, squished it all together and then massaged it all over my face. I did use it on my eye area because it's supposed to reduce wrinkles, so why not. It is a mask for dry skin, perfect for winter skin. Even my normally oily skin is quite dry this winter. I could feel some tingling while it was drying and after about 20 mn removed it with warm water and a cloth. Apply toner if you have it and then your favorite moisturizer. Your skin will feel very soft and look great for a couple of days.

Click HERE to read about the healthy skin benefits of an avocado including information on making a mask and other stuff.

Before & After Hutch

2011-01-23T15:19:00.005-06:00

If you click on the photo's you can see the difference.

There's not a huge difference but I feel like this hutch no longer screams 1990's to me. It was white-washed pine and a few coats of paint covered up the knots. They might eventually bleed through but hopefully not. I don't miss those rusty knots. After the picture, I took the knick-knacks off again as the paint isn't ready for that. I think I'm going to do an overhaul of the inside too, maybe add some books and take out the red accents, more of a natural look I'm thinking. I'm happy with the way it turned out, it was a good day for this project. It is VERY windy over here, coming straight from the south where we're exposed. Hopefully the winds are bringing the warm south temp's.

We have a teacher's inservice tomorrow so there won't be a 2 hour delay. The year is officially half over. Kind of hard to believe.

Painting

2011-01-23T11:22:00.004-06:00

Today's the day...I'm finally painting the hutch. Nothing too daring however, just a creamy white that I happened to have in the basement. It's Swiss Coffee from Home Depot. I originally bought it for the wainscot but it was not white enough so I used some to paint the inside of the new closet and had about 1/2 gallon left. I'm using a small foam roller and it's going fast-two coats and one to go then a little trim work. I'm thinking of changing the knobs too. Pottery Barn has some nice ones in their new catalog, and Fleet Farm has that are quite similar. I was surprised by the nice collection that FF had. I'll post an after when I'm finished, maybe today?!

My other project is entering and posting grades. The quarter ended on Friday and we have til noon tomorrow to get them entered. It's nice to be able to do it at home. Dan is looking forward to football this afternoon, so that's our day. Hope you are staying warm, sounds like better temps are just around the corner.

2011-01-16T19:21:00.002-06:00

Burning lots of candles here today and the fireplace has been going non-stop. Hope you are all avoiding the wind and snow outside. It's really whipping up out there and I'll be surprised if we're not 2 hours late, although now I've probably jinxed it. Nothing like starting Monday off by sleeping it a little bit, especially in January!
Here's a Pottery Barn pillow that I like and have thoughts of replicating with my calendar pictures. Birds were big last spring with PB, this spring looks like butterflies. I'm into both.
I've admired some collage art at gift stores combined with quotes. Here's my imitation. The 4-6 inch plaques had ugly pictures on them so I just glued over the top of them, they came from the SA for 50 cents each. I still have one left. I have some copies of family pictures I'd like to play with too.
I took pity on this rather tacky Christmas bird (50 cents) at the Bargain Bazaar a couple of weeks ago. She's starting to grow on me because someone put a lot of effort into gluing all her sequins on both sides. She clings to a plastic branch and I actually like the colors in her tail feathers. I stuck her in the tree and she looked at home there with the vintage ornaments. She must be a partridge.

Soup Days

2011-01-09T15:13:00.005-06:00

These cold January days call for hearty soups on the stove. Today, I will share my favorite with you. I used to make it all the time when we were first married. I made it again today and it's called Hobo Soup in the Trinity Cookbook on page 260. It's from our neighbor on the farm, Margaret Kjeldahl who passed away a couple of years ago. She was such a nice lady. Linda Hansen's recipe is on the same page and almost the same.

Hobo Soup

1 lb hamburger (I use 1/2 or less)

1 cup chopped onion (I use 1/2)

1 cup tomatoes (canned or fresh)

3 cups water

1 c carrots

1 c celery

1/4 tsp basil

1/4 tsp thyme

1 bay leaf

1 c diced potatoes

1 c chopped cabbage (I often skip as I don't usually have)

1/4 cup rice white or brown, add more if you like it thick

3 tsp salt (I add 2 tsp pepper too)

Brown hamburger and onion. Add other ingredients and cook until vegetables are tender 30 mn or so. Linda says that it freezes well too. I love it for leftovers as it just gets tastier. It seems like a healthy soup, uses ingredients you probably have and it's so easy.

Congratulations!!!!

2011-01-09T15:11:00.003-06:00

My friend Becky became a grandmother today! Little Jacob is one lucky little boy. Congrat's to your entire family, Becky!!!

Natural Decorating

2011-01-09T14:52:00.002-06:00

The moss shown below was scraped from the oak trees here in October. Charice, I will be sure to get some to Sean this spring. Even if I have to send a bag with Dan to Mpls now that the three of you all work downtown. I could probably make a killing selling it in a little boutique down there. :)
These matted frames came from a half price box at the Fergus Salvation Army. I had to cut the backing off to take out the faded photographs that someone else once treasured. After the discount they were $1.20 each. I put two old Cavellini calendar pictures in the frames instead and I actually like how the frames are a little distressed. I know that the bottom one is sideways but I think it looks a little more interesting that way. I think they have a Pottery Barn look to them at a tiny fraction of the cost.

2011-01-09T14:38:00.002-06:00

This thermos bag came from a rummage sale up in Hibbing two years ago. That day of rummaging was definitely in my top 5 of sale days. Shari, Mom, Carly and I had a very fun morning. There are two nice matching thermoses inside too!

Big Kitty enjoys birdwatching, in this case, it was a big red squirrel!

Annette gave me some fun bird pictures. Sets like these were used in schools in the 60's I'd guess. This one is my favorite and it fits perfectly in the matted SA frame I got for 90 cents the other day. The glass was cracked, which I didn't notice til I got home, so I will have to get that somewhere.

2011-01-07T19:07:00.002-06:00

Here's the second pair of gloves I did a little accent knitting for. I like the yarn I used here so am working on another pair at the moment.
Last weekend I experimented with some night pictures and they turned out pretty good. I think the reflection of white snow helped in comparison with the summer night pictures I've taken.
We have quite a bit of snow, but not as much as they have down in Jackson or even in the cities so it could be worse.

Today, our school dismissed at 12:15 due to blowing snow and drifting on the roads. It was kind of nice to get an early start on the weekend. I came home and did some cleaning and put a few Christmas items away. We have pretty much been hermits for the last 8 days. I venture out to work but that's been about it. Tomorrow we hope to go out and get some groceries and other supplies. This could be a seriously LONG winter.

Knitting/Happy 2011

2010-12-31T20:24:00.003-06:00

Yes, you read right, knitting. I can do the basic stitch, thanks to my good friend Amanda. Because, I like short term projects, this one is perfect for me. I told Deb about my idea on Wednesday and thanks to the bad weather that kept me house-bound, I actually did it. I sewed a 6 stitch 7 1/2 inch wide border for the gloves and a yarn flower to accent. The knitted cuff can be worn up as shown or folded down. I'm in the process of another and thinking about trying fingerless gloves too. I plan to use them as gifts and we'll see how many I actually get made. If this weather keeps up, could be quite a few! Knitting is so relaxing and this project is a good way to use up your scraps too, for you expert knitters out there-I personally have no scraps. I got lazy and used my glue gun for the button-it worked great! The yarn for these gloves was a Goodwill find on Monday.

The snow began here (again) about 3pm, this photo actually made it look worse. We got about 10 inches yesterday, just a little rain for about an hour til 9am then snow ALL day long. Who knows what will happen tonight-guess we'll see when we get up. We're going out for our somewhat annual New Year's Eve walk soon, not on the lake, as we might drown in the snow. We enjoyed one of Royce's chickens, roasted with garlic, lemon and rosemary, yes, it smells pretty good in our house still. Happy Cozy New Years to all of you!! Love, Laurie

More snow....

2010-12-30T22:47:00.002-06:00

Here's a picture of the fish houses on the other side of the point across from the cabin. I didn't see anybody out on the lake today as we are in the middle of yet another snow storm. It started out as rain around 8am and by 9 turned to wet sloshy snow. It snowed ALL day and now we have wind. The snow finally stopped and it sounds like it may start up again tomorrow. It looks like we have about 7-8 inches already. Stay safe out there-we plan to stay put for the next 24 hours! Happy New Year!!

Cat Spa

2010-12-30T22:40:00.003-06:00

The cats requested that their beds be placed in the cat spa with the heated floors so I obliged. We turned the heat on last week and it took Nola about 5 mn to discover that. If the fireplace isn't on, this is where you'll find at least 2, often 3 of them. I caught Nola in a big yawn here-it's a tiring life being a pampered cat.

It's so cozy in here!

Smith Christmas 2010

2010-12-30T21:49:00.005-06:00

Melissa, Andy & Dan

Sam, Kelsey, & Pam

The official count was 31!!!

Here we are in the middle of the book/dice game-I think everyone went home with a book or two. Start saving your books for 2011!

Jamie & Courtney

Alex & Danielle hanging out at the buffet!

Sam, Courtney & Paige

Miranda

Courtney

Jim, Darlene & Jen

Jen sports her vintage coat that was her Grandma Esther's (Darlene's mom) Sunday best. She says it's very warm-Grandma would be happy to know that it's keeping her granddaughter toasty. It looks very stylish too. Vintage coats are totally in-good find, Jen!!

Miranda and Dan pose nicely!

Megan and Paige, they were playing a pretty duet.

Larson Christmas 2010

2010-12-30T20:53:00.001-06:00

I love this view-isn't Joey's mohawk cap cool too?

Even Polly enjoyed a ride!

Yum- Mom made turkey and roast beef for Christmas Eve!

Ellen was a good sport and indulged me with a fur picture.

oh, the fun of presents!

Everybody dig in to Lynn's cookie tray!!

Royce made this trailer for Dad for Christmas to help with chores. It worked great as a sleigh too! We had lots of fun outside on Christmas Day. The weather was in the 20's and perfect.

Love those ear-flaps, Paul and Carly's owl cap is darling!

Grant was only good for one round and he was ready to head back in the house.

Carly and Sophie are such great friends!!

Gracie and Grant show Grandpa how to use my Ipad! It's amazing how quickly kids catch on, of course to them it was just a big smart phone, of which they are already familiar.

Gracie has the prettiest baby-blues!

Royce shot these-hmmmm, which one to wear....

Strike a pose!

Grant loves his backpack from the Floms!

Merry Christmas, 2010!!!!

Christmas

2010-12-28T17:50:00.003-06:00

We've had a very lovely Christmas-I have some good pictures on my camera and will try to get them downloaded in the next couple of days. We've been in Cyrus & Shakopee. Yesterday, I had fun shopping and having lunch with Charice in Mpls while Dan worked and today I joined Mary for lunch (Union Market!) and thrift store shopping in Fergus. We did well!! We also had our first beniets (little pastries-probably not spelled right) together and they were so good-try them!!

Greenhouse?

2010-12-28T17:39:00.002-06:00

In the fall, I pulled a couple of geranium plants in because they had so many blooms it was a shame to let them freeze. Well, they never stopped blooming! I have some petunias doing quite well in the middle pot and behind that there's a healthy rosemary plant that happens to be on its second year. I have some parsley that's doing okay, a small pot of basil, and another small pot of rosemary in the kitchen. My ivy and sedum plants are doing well too. Later this winter I plan to try to root some new rosemary plants so hopefully I will have some to share this spring.

Snow Pictures

2010-12-28T17:25:00.002-06:00

I took these pictures last week. The picture above shows a feeder I rescued from the dumpster by our house. Yes, it continues to bring me treasures now and then, lately for the birds.
There are now three houses in front of our house. In this picture I like the rabbit tracks that lead out to them from our house. We have a bunch of rabbits that like to eat the corn I scatter under the bird feeders. The cats like to watch them too.
In this photo you can see the fish houses between Sandy and Point Comfort. I've never seen so many out there before.

Doesn't Junior's cabin look cozy in all the snow?

More snow fun-

2010-12-22T22:03:00.002-06:00

I think this first one is my favorite!

These boys kept adding more and more. I think they maxed out at 8!

A fun day!

2010-12-22T21:29:00.004-06:00

Here are most of my 5th graders at the top of the sledding hill that goes down to our FB field. It was the perfect spot. The committee picked this activity out for their Christmas party.

Love those expressions!!

At 2:00 today we ended the day with our Christmas program, postponed from Monday. They did a great job.

When was the last time you had this much fun??

Powder!!

Back in the room for popcorn and cocoa. See the boys by the counter, they were the popcorn boys and took care of everything, butter, oil and served it up too. A mom donated a popcorn popper so we may have to have more popcorn this year-darn! :) A 5th grader's big sister helped with the hot chocolate. She was a former first grader of mine, time flies.

2010-12-22T21:16:00.002-06:00

A pretty sunset and notice all the fish houses off the point this year.

Our art teacher, Melissa, won ugliest Christmas sweater this year! Just an FYI that I disqualified myself because it was my idea, not that I would have won but who knows. I made a pancake gift basket for the winner.
Here I am with my room neighbor, John, science, with our entries for ugliest sweater. People thought my fur was too pretty so I took that off early and let one of the paras wear it instead. Sue was loving my fur and hated to take it off at the end of the day.
I made another bulletin board out of an old plastic frame, this one is a smaller version but quite handy. HAven't found a permanent spot for it yet but after all the Christmas items come down I'm sure I will. All I did was paint the inside black.
This is another great find at the Bargain Bazaar-a down filled vest from the Gap for just $1!!!!

Karen's Holiday Decorating

2010-12-21T18:50:00.002-06:00

My cousin Karen shared some of her decorating pictures with me and said I could share them with you on my blog. In the top photo I just love the little tree in the red basket-Longaberger I bet! The ornaments are darling on the feather tree.
Karen commented on my old cake pan and came up with her own for decorating. Yours looks great! I bought one at the BB that I use for baking and there was another that was a little rusty so I left it. Well, it sat there for almost two months and finally I bought it for $1, I might come up with other uses for it too, who knows.
Can you see Jenna's crown near the top of the tree? Isn't that fun and a special memory too!?
There are a lot of things I really like in this photo, those twig reindeer are really fun and the vintage ornaments in the jar are so pretty. But the main thing I noticed is that Karen has a twin to my hutch! I got mine at a Brandon antique store and it turns out that Karen almost bought it before I did! We both must have got a matching decorating gene as we like very similar items. Where did this one come from, Karen? Did you have it when you were considering the one I purchased?
In this photo, my favorite thing is the trophy! I'll take that if you ever get tired of it, Karen!! Oh and that metal laundry basket too. :) I know, fat chance....

Sarah Richardson

2010-12-18T19:38:00.003-06:00

Most of these photo's are from Sarah Richardson's country house which is a Canadian website/tv show. I love her style. The black dining room is not hers. I love her wainscott and how she uses wallpaper above it. I'm thinking about doing something similar above the wainscott in the entry and maybe one other room. I could easily put it up myself because it would be short strips.

This picture makes me think I should paint my hutch black.

Back to Sarah's house, doesn't the wallpaper look nice in this room?

I like how they used a towel bar to hang a quilt in this room, thought some of you quilters might be interested in that idea.
The entry is my favorite-the red door pops and the paisley drapes are perfect. Google Sarah Richardson and you'll find her blog which shows about 7 different homes she has decorated in totally different styles. This country house is my favorite.

2010-12-18T11:10:00.002-06:00

It's hard to believe it's the last weekend before Christmas. It definitely looks like Christmas around here. On Thursday we got about 6 inches of school. I was surprised to hear that school was cancelled but enjoyed my snow day very much. Lazy mornings are always a nice thing in the middle of the week! After I'd had enough coffee/lounging I decided to be productive by shoveling the walk, and in front of the garage. Dan blew the driveway later. I did a couple of craft projects, and organized the entry for all our winter gear. Dan was working from home, so wasting time on the internet was not an option. He was in Mpls on Tuesday and Wednesday and was shocked by the amount of snow they had, especially downtown. It sounds like we could get dumped on again on Monday, but the rest the week sounds good for travelers.

Have a good weekend, whatever you're up to!

He's back!

2010-12-12T19:40:00.002-06:00

I walked through the living room this afternoon and that little bright red spot in the snow caught my eye. It's been over a year since I have seen a male cardinal in our yard. We had a female last winter, but she disappeared in the spring-probably in search of a mate. I wonder if this male has a mate or if he's a loner. He was eating sunflower seeds and cracked corn on the ground. His color will be a welcome addition to the landscape this winter. Hope he sticks around!