Crafts and Books and Everyday

Hoping for some good sleep tonight. Husband had a long day at work yesterday - 12 hours plus travel time - and was understandably tired at the end of the day. Once in bed he was out like a rock and snoring like a...well, I'm not quite sure what snores as loudly as he did last night! I had my earplugs in and I could still hear him quite loudly. I tried discretely nudging him but it didn't work and, after about forty minutes, I ended up on the sofa. The sleep was not good. He had another long day today. I am hoping the snoring is not so bad tonight. I fear I might be disappointed. Sigh. 

I got a couple of household jobs off my list, things that I'd been putting off. I also managed to get up in the craft room for a bit today. I didn't get a lot done, but I did make a start on another mini album and I put together a couple of Halloween toppers that will go on cards. The photo is the Things That Make Me Smile for today (day 265)

I thought I'd also mention a fail. I gave in and bought a couple of books at The Dollar Tree yesterday. I went in for a couple of things, but got distracted by the books. They look like a couple of easy reads

Today was definitely cooler and there was a touch of Autumn in the air. I kept the windows closed all day to keep the heat in the house. It was sunny, but there was a wind too. Tonight the temperature is supposed to drop to 40F/4C - a chilly night to be sure! The window in the bedroom is closed and the blanket has been pulled over the bed in case it is needed. 

I will have to be sure to bundle up for the walk in the morning!  Tomorrow is middle son's birthday so after my walk I have to go out and pick up a couple of things. I am hoping the roads cooperate (lol). The main road up the top of the street is coming to the end (hopefully) of a long project (it's been only open one way since April) and they are now repaving the whole thing. The sign says expect long delays. Sigh. There are roadworks everywhere. As I tried to get home from the shops the other day the road I usually go down was closed and the detour had a lane closed. I am trying to think where I can shop where the travel will be easier!

I'm off to bed hoping for some sleep!

Halfway Through the Week

 Well, it's Wednesday and we were back at Jane's again. I couldn't seem to get moving this morning, so didn't get to my walk early and then I got distracted. I hadn't seen a lot around the park so I decided to head back to the car. Walking along the path I saw a bunch of robins, then some nuthatches, woodpeckers (three varieties!) and finches (two varieties!).  It always seems to happen when I have to be somewhere! I took a few photos and headed off to pick up MIL.

Today we sorted twenty-two - yes 22 - plastic tubs/totes clothes! This is hopefully the last of the clothes. We have already sorted (and donated) approximately 20 black rubbish bags of clothes. Who knew one person could own so many? I don't think I even have a fraction of that amount of clothes. They date back several years and are in several sizes. I am hopeful that someone else will get plenty of use out of them. 

I was hoping tomorrow to go and photograph a sunrise but we have had some snow and if the roads aren't the greatest in the morning I shan't be going far. Sigh. I'm going to get up and then see. I'm supposed to walk with my walking friend too. I hate to cancel. Although I enjoy walking with her I like going by myself to for the very reason that if I am running late, don't feel like going or want to try somewhere else, I have no-one to please buy myself. She'll probably think I'm a chicken for not wanting to drive in the snow. 

Positive things for the day :-

* I got eight books sorted for the donation pile. Not as many as I hoped but after Jane's I was tired. I         really didn't feel like rummaging around in anything else so picked some easily at hand. 

* I managed to get some photos done on my project! I am doing a year long project and want to keep         on track. 

* I got up in the craft room and put together some 3d toppers from a set by Craft Consortium called In       the Forest

Phone Photo Things That Make Me Smile

19/365 Sometimes it's just the little things that make me smile. Chocolate. Chocolate always makes me smile!

Boxing Day

 Son came over today and we had a lovely time opening presents and chatting. It's been a while since he's stayed for any amount of time so it was nice to just relax and enjoy the company. I got lots of goodies - some photography bits, some books and chocolates - even a little alcohol! My middle sister messaged me today with some photos of her grandchildren at their get together from yesterday. It was lovely to see photos of the children. They are growing up so fast! Her latest grandchild was born in June so I haven't even got to see him yet. He looks like such a lovely, happy baby. 

The gifts have all been handed out and now comes the lull between Christmas and New Year. I am looking forward to getting back in my craft room, tidying up and starting afresh. I am going to take this week to think about the direction I want the next year to go in and try to think of some realistic goals to set. I've been looking back on the last year and sorting out things. The year definitely proved a challenge. 

Photos today - I made four albums for people for Christmas. They contained photos of my daughter's proposal/engagement. Now I have to make one for me!

I also made several calendars. Most were done on the computer but my Mum's was completely handmade (of course I forgot to take photos of that one)

And I also made a couple of 2020 mask ornaments. 

And a husky ornament

I liked making the ornaments. I used to make quite a few of them, but for some reason (probably just being really busy) I stopped making them. I do however have a few more picked out to do. 

Overall I'm quite pleased with my makes this year. How about you? Did your Homemade With Love gifts work out? I think - this year especially - a handmade, thoughtful gift is lovely and such a great way to let someone know that you are thinking about them even if you can't be close!

Too Hot Saturday

Yuck. It's very hot and humid today. We're under a heat advisory. Our Saturday walk this morning was early and fairly short. We made sure to take water with us and we were glad of it! Phone photo below.

I Skyped with Mum. We connected really quickly. Poor Mum got a sunburn. She went out yesterday to the seaside with my sister and though she wore sun cream she still got burned on her face! She said it was quite windy down by the sea so I'm sure that was part of it. Also she hasn't spent as much time outside this year as she usually does.

This afternoon I did some more crafting. I have been using up a pack of cards and envelopes that I must have picked up at a sale or something to make some more albums. They are smaller than the ones I originally used to make the last album but it gives me the chance to use up some smaller pieces of paper too. I am really enjoying making these and using up some supplies. This is one of the ones I made.

I have had this paper hanging around forever. I think I'm going to use this one as some sort of nature journal. I think the paper works really well for that.

I hope everyone has a good weekend. May the sun shine and it be nice out but not too hot! Stay safe.

Mid-Week

It's heating up again. The air conditioner was working overtime today. I am not doing well in the heat. I did go for a walk but when it started to heat up and the sun was beating down I started to feel quite sick. It's been that way for a while when it's been hot. I don't think I'm coming down with anything. I think it's just the heat. Sigh. Once I got home I didn't sit outside. I decided to just stay out of the heat and do some crafty things. My son finished a box of cereal and saved the box for me. There's no cute face on the front but I can use the box for a cover for a mini album.

Here's what's on my craft desk.

On my walks I have been really enjoying seeing the wildflowers. There are so many of them. I am a little saddened that I haven't seen that many bees or butterflies around. It seems there used to be a lot more of them.

This is one of my favourite wildflowers. It is Chicory. The flowers are a lovely blue colour.

From Wikipedia 

Common chicory is a somewhat woody, perennial herbaceous plant of the dandelion family Asteraceae, usually with bright blue flowers, rarely white or pink. Many varieties are cultivated for salad leaves, chicons, or roots, which are baked, ground, and used as a coffee substitute and food additive. 

I have been taking lots of photos of the flowers I do see and though I don't always know what they are I plan to look them up and perhaps put the photos and a description in a mini album. I do have a Michigan wildflower book but I find it quite difficult to use as some of the photos in it aren't the best and some of the flowers look the same! I took photos of some leaves the other day and found out they were Poison Ivy. I had an idea as my husband always tell me 'Leaves of Three, Let it Be'. I didn't get close enough to touch lol.  

I took this one with my phone and shall keep it on there for reference when I'm out walking. There was a lot of it around!

I hope your week is going well. 

What a Crazy Week!

I'm not going into the politics of it but what a crazy week! Things are shutting down left and right and people are shopping like there's no tomorrow. I am definitely not a people person so not being around crowds is fine by me. I'm hoping that will also mean that maybe so many people won't be out and about and things will be quieter. That's one upside for an introvert like me.

Weather wise the week has been blah. There has been sunshine but grey days too. I suppose that's part of spring. I can definitely tell that there is an upshift in the number of brighter days. It does make my mood a little lighter. I was up early again today for another sunrise. I was quite tired yesterday, went to bed early so woke up early and then I started to think about things and - of course - then I couldn't go back to sleep!

I actually remembered to pick up my photos today from the shop so I finished my February pages for my monthly album. I have been meaning to pick up these photos since the beginning of the week and several times have walked into the supermarket meaning to pick them up and walking out without them!

Oh last Saturday I did do my #1day12pics for my online camera club (collage below). On the first Saturday of each month you take 12 photos. It's supposed to be one photo an hour, but these were taken more in two chunks. There are some textures from my walk along the beach on my morning adventure and then from my time sitting in the garden in the afternoon to the moon at night.

I hope everyone had a good week and are staying safe and sane wherever you are in the world! Thanks for all the comments on the last post. Son's progress on heading for his new job is going ahead - so far!

End of the Week - This and That

Well another week over. February is just about done too. Hopefully March will bring a little bit better weather, some more sunshine and a little bit warmer days. It will be a while before anything starts growing around here though. Some more snow did come through, but it is supposed to warm up again on Sunday so it will probably all melt. It was bitterly cold this morning when I went out for a walk - only 23F/-5C with a wind chill of 9F/-13C at 10am. I would have come home sooner, but the sun came out and I couldn't resist being out in the sunshine no matter what temperature. I was all bundled up with my long underwear and hand warmers in my gloves. I can't wait - and am anxiously looking forward - to when I can hope outside in just a light jacket and no need to warm up the car. It won't be long!

I got up in my craft room today for a little bit after the walk, errands and a bit of housework. I have an idea for my sister's 60th birthday card and have to get busy on it soon. I did make a couple of small cards. I'm really enjoying these 3d butterfly stickers I found at the dollar store.

I've also been sorting through my photos from our mini-break. I still have a lot more to go through but thought I'd share a couple.

I had to share this one. Last year when we visited we saw this huge ice thing on the beach in a small park and couldn't work out what the ice was covering. We went back in the summer and there was nothing there! This time when we were up we thought we'd look again. Sure enough ice was there - not as big as last year but still there. We got talking to another couple who were there for the sunrise and they told me that they had talked to a man who said he was involved in creating the ice. The reason we could find nothing in that spot? There is nothing there! This is a totally man-made creation.  Obviously the cold temperatures create the ice, but there is a water thing underneath. Definitely something interesting to learn!

Husband on a snowy beach. I love this beach. It is so wild and untamed. There are lots of tree limbs that have washed up all throughout the year. The beach was covered with lovely fluffy white snow and, closer to Lake Superior, ice that was tall and dropped down into the lake. It is so very beautiful.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Cold Saturday -

Brrr… the last couple of days have been absolutely freezing here. It was only -14c/7f when we went out this morning and colder than that with the wind blowing. We drove over to the lakeshore to see the ice beginning to form. I'm not sure we'll get much of it this year as overall things haven't been as cold as usual. It's amazing how quickly it forms though. I couldn't believe it when we got there and there were some men wind surfing in the lake! They had to walk along an ice covered walkway to be able to slide off into the water.

As I'm typing this it has warmed up a little (just below freezing though it's 4.25pm so I don't think it will be getting any warmer) and it's doing something outside. I can hear things hitting on the window.  I poked my head outside and it looks like a cross between snow and ice. Yuck. Hopefully it won't stick to the roads too much as we'd like to go out tomorrow for our usual Sunday adventure.

Son did make it home. His plane on Thursday ended up being cancelled. He had to spend the night in the airport and did not make it home until Friday morning. It was uncomfortable for him and not a lot of sleep, but he took it in stride. I was really quite proud of him as he sometimes panics if things don't go just so. I think I was more stressed out than he was! It was another late night on Thursday waiting to see if the plane would leave and he'd need picking up at the airport. I'm glad all that's over with!

I went upstairs to the craft room this afternoon. Still not too inspired but - thinking of Spring - I put together this little card. I can't wait until there is colour in the garden and flowers are blooming!

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Creative groove...not

I think it's a combination of winter and dull, grey days that I'm not feeling all that creative lately. I tend to have ideas at the most awkward time and then when it comes to when I have time to sit down and create nothing comes to mind! Is anyone else struggling with all the darkness at this time of year?

I did splurge when I was with daughter. St. Cloud Minnesota has the most fantastic craft shop (Crafts Direct) that I love to visit when I am there. They have every craft imaginable, lots of new products and are a family owned shop. They do have a 40% off coupon each week that is available off any product for a donation of $1 to the charity chosen that week. I love this idea! What a great way to raise money and give people the coupons they love. I had such good ideas to do with the items I bought while I was there and now that I'm home - poof - they are gone and I am feeling uninspired. I am going to try to keep a notebook near me so I can write things down. Perhaps I shall have to go on Pinterest and have a look around. Where do you get inspiration from?

On the home front I haven't done a lot of clearing out. I need to take a page out of daughter's book. She had been sorting through her wardrobe and had over 10 plastic bags of clothes to take to the charity shop! I don't think I even have 10 bags of clothes lol. She likes clothes, but buys a lot of them at the charity shop or when they are on clearance for ridiculous prices. I have managed to clear out a few books that are in a bag waiting for me to take for donation but not a lot else. I think it's time to get back to the list making!

Today's Photo - this is a Northern Flicker. It is a woodpecker though it does feed from the ground too. They have a lovely heart-shaped red mark on the back of their necks. The males have a black mustache whereas the females don't. Some stay in the southern part of the state of Michigan, others fly south. I love the way these woodpeckers look. This one visited my suet feeder out front of my house. The weather wasn't the greatest (snow/ice) and the woodpecker seemed a little confused - or maybe he was wishing that he'd gone south for the winter!

Short Days

I'm really struggling with the shorter days now that our time has changed. It gets dark so early and the nights seem so long. When it's cloudy outside it seems the day never brightens up at all. Now that the temperature has dropped I'm struggling with the cold too. My hands have been absolutely freezing the past couple of days and no amount of turning up the heat seems to help. I always seem to struggle when the temperature changes.

That's the moaning for the day lol.

I ran errands today as it was cloudy and cold. I walked yesterday quite a bit while it was sunny so today I decided to give it a miss. I did ring mum and have a nice chat with her. It's back to our normal time - no worrying whether I get the time right or not lol.

I did go upstairs and craft for a while. I'm trying to make some gnomes with things I found at the dollar shop. We shall see how that goes. The YouTube video makes it look so easy. Hopefully I'll have something to share in a couple of days. I have been working on Mum's calendar too. I have to sort through some photos and get them printed. While I was thinking about crafts I realised that I didn't share the Halloween cards I made. The designs are simple, but I seem to go for that rather than a lot of fussy bits on them.  I put them in a collage.

I have started on Christmas cards so hopefully I'll have some of them to share - and before the holiday too lol. Is anyone else working on crafts? Do you give out homemade gifts?

Ups and Downs

Of course I have to talk about the weather - might as well get it over with first. It's been a week of ups and downs. Monday morning when I woke there was snow on the ground. Sigh. I thought we were done with that. There was quite a bit on my car so I had to dig out the snow brush and clear it off before I even started. Luckily the roads weren't bad so I decided to go out. We hadn't gone walking on Sunday and I admit that I needed to get out for a walk. 

The poor daffodils in the woods were covered with a layer of snow. 

It did warm up a little during the day and the snow melted. I'm thinking hoping that this was winter's last stand and it shall be the last we see of the snow, though I won't hold my breath! The weather for Tuesday was going to wet and cloudy. It wasn't raining when I got up. I hurried around, got dressed, ready to go out the door and it started raining! Instead I did a few jobs and thought that was it, there would be on walk. A little later when I looked out the window I could see the clouds starting to break up and the sun peeking through! I quickly hurried out - it was still spitting - and started to walk. The clouds parted, blue sky broke through the grey and the SUN came out! It turned into an absolutely gorgeous day. So we went from snow to temps where I actually opened the windows. Ah Spring!

This week has been a little strange due to son's weird work schedule. I think we'll just have worked things out and got used to the change when it will be back to normal again.  The books that should go to the library bookshop for donation have actually made it to the car! I cleaned out my car yesterday as the weather was so beautiful and decided to load them up. I shall take them tomorrow or Friday. 

I've done a little crafting. Not a lot. My tailbone is still bothering me and I haven't broken down and bought the cushion thingy for my chair (though I think I shall have to just spend the money) so can't sit in my crafting chair for long. I've been on a colouring streak. I had printed out lots of colour. I also found up some more decoupage pages and did those. I have enough that I need to start putting together some cards. 

The cowl is still waiting to be finished. 

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Sliding into the Weekend

Yes, it's almost the weekend again. Another week flying by. Yesterday the temperature was lovely - very warm, though rainy most of the day. Today the temperatures dropped and, as I'm writing this, it is snowing! My poor body doesn't know whether to warm up or cool down. It's rained most of the day - until afternoon where it began to change to a mixture of snow and rain and now finally snow. No walk today. I barely managed one yesterday before the rain set in. I am hoping that things will improve so we can at least get out this weekend.

I got some jobs done and actually went up into my craft room. It seems that lately I spend most of my time taking and sorting through photos. Today I was in the mood to go up and sit for a little bit (as long as my tailbone would let me lol).

I did a little colouring and a couple of pages in my photo journal.

The coloured items need to be cut out and then sorted onto cards or other projects. I do have metal dies for the birds. When my tailbone had enough I went down and did some knitting while watching some vlogs on YouTube. I don't turn the telly on until later at night, even then it's usually Netflix or Britbox. There isn't a lot I watch on American tv.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Midweek

Thanks for all the supportive comments yesterday. I didn't buy anything. Today was a new day. It was snowing and cold so I stayed inside. I've been out walking several days in a row so today I decided not to even bother going out. I did go up to my craft room for a little while and made a couple of cards - one with the topper I had put together the other day and another that I put together today.

This was the free set that came with a magazine (not sure which papercraft magazine!) but the papers are by Hunky Dory. They are of a really good quality. I'm not usually a flowery sort of person so that's probably why it's sat in my craft room for a while, but I really like the butterfly one. The papers are really pretty. I shall be using up the whole kit so there will be more cards to come!

And the two cards

I also tried out a new recipe today. I wasn't planning on a new recipe. I had purchased chicken thighs with a different recipe in mind but the one I had planned on using them for called for boneless skinless chicken thighs and I bought the ones with bones and skin. I know I could have fussed with them, but I don't eat meat so I really don't like messing with it too much. Instead I looked for something different to do with them. This got really good reviews and is really simple (not even sure I can call it a recipe!), but the guys really liked it! I served it with a jacket (baked) potato w/cheese. It was the perfect day to have the oven on for the potatoes. The guys said the skin was crispy, but the inside was nice and tender.

I found it on Allrecipes.com. The oven temps are for American ovens

6 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
salt and ground pepper to taste
garlic powder

Preheat oven to 475F (245c). Set a wire rack inside a baking pan. Pat Chicken dry. Lift up skin, salt, pepper and sprinkle garlic powder. Season skin and underside of chicken thighs. Arrange on the rack. Roast in the preheated oven for 20 mins until golden brown. Reduce oven temp to 400f (200c). Continue roasting until juices run clear, about 30 minutes (mine took a little longer). Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Is it Thursday Already?

Yikes. Time is running out!

Yesterday was my daughter's birthday. I tried not to be too sad as I couldn't see her, but I did get to talk with her for quite a while so that was nice. She said she had a pretty nice day. She had a dentist appointment. Ick. That, for me, would not be a good day! She said she had scheduled it so that she could leave work early! I did go out to lunch with a friend so that was nice. She's always good to talk to. Her younger son moved quite a way away (though he did come back!) so she understood how I felt. She also helped with a couple of other things I was having issues with. I enjoyed talking to her as I didn't feel stupid or that my problems were insignificant.

Things are coming along. We finally got our tree up. I didn't take a normal photo of it, but I was playing around with lights and what-not.

It's my abstract tree! I like that it is actually in the shape of a tree. I'm going to try doing some bokeh photography while the lights are out.

I made a card for someone I'm giving a GC too. I thought I'd just tuck it inside.

It's done by decoupage toppers. I really enjoy doing these. I didn't think I would, but I had a few in my stash. I think this one was 'free' with one of my magazines. The card base is from Docrafts Christmas with Wellington. I got these in the US from Joanns.com. There are 12 6x6 card bases (with - I think - 4/5 different prints) and I paid less than $4! They also come with some really nice envelopes.

I think I might have to get some more of these! I really like them.

I've also been doing this 'Currently' thing for The Awesome Ladies Project. On Fridays I fill out this little note and it's just a way to keep track of things. They fit quite nicely in a little notebook I had.

Once I get through this week it will be nice to be able to work on some me projects again.

I really feel like next year I need to be organised. How do people organise for Christmas? Do you buy things throughout the year? Do you make lists of ideas for people? Things to do? I feel as though all this running around and feeling stressed is unnecessary. Thanks for the input!

I always enjoy reading all your comments!

Rainy Weekend

The weather has been terrible all weekend! I managed a little walk by myself yesterday but hubby and I didn't even go out today. It's rainy and dull and not worth bothering. Instead I stayed in and at least attempted to do something other than curl up in my chair and read (which is exactly the sort of day it is)! I went up to craft room and spent a little trying to create. I hope the week brings a little sunshine. I feel uninspired to take a lot of photos so tried to be a little creative in my photo taking of my crafts.

What do you do on rainy days to keep your spirits up? Is there some way you like to spend your time when there are several days in a row with rain or bad weather?