Some Craft Projects

I thought I'd share some of the craft projects I've been doing. Usually, I do these after daughter and son-in-law have taken Baby A downstairs to their bedroom and before I go to bed. 

I've (sort of) completed three cards using the toppers I have posted before. There are no sentiments on them as I did not bring any with me that suited and I don't want to buy more as I have some at home. 

I have completed the mini-album I was making. The basic waterfall album was made from paper too. I really enjoy this woodland paper. 

I find these really fun to make. 

This is another one I've started. The actual album is made from a kit, but you have to put it together the way you want the album to be and then decorate. I'm using more of the woodland paper as I have a bunch left. 

Hopefully I'll have the finished one to show you soon!

I absolutely love these papers. I have some cut aparts that came with the papers and I'm hoping to make some cards of out them

Still Cold

I got out of the house for a bit today as it was son-in-law's last day at home. I was going to go for a walk, but it was far too cold for that! It didn't get above 0F/-18C today and the windchill (it was windy too!) was waaaayyy below that. I took the car for a drive and did get out briefly to take a couple of bird photos and then got right back in the car! It was brutal! Even though I wasn't outside long my lips are chapped. At least daughter's car was in the garage, so it easily started. The same can't be said for my car back in Michigan. Husband could not get it started this morning or this evening, so we are thinking it needs a new battery. In the money department, it seems as though we take two steps forward and one step back!

Here in Minnesota Little Baby A is still not sleeping well at night. Poor daughter was really tired today and I'm sure it's only going to get worse. Baby A is quite gassy. She does have some times in the day when she is wide awake and other times quite restless after feeding. I hope things get better!

I did finish my craft project, though I forgot to take photos so hopefully the light will be good tomorrow so I can take some. I've been reading quite a bit. I do like being able to read in bed at night and in the morning when I get up!

I did get up early enough (ha ha) today that I could see a bit of the sunrise

Not the greatest view or the greatest photo, but hey, as cold as the temperatures are, it is nice to see the sunshine!

It was this cold at 9am this morning.

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Look at these adorable little feet! Don't they make you smile? They did me!

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I'm not posting the photo as I'm not showing granddaughter's face, but this evening as we were sitting in the living room son-in-law was holding Baby A and the puppy (Sierra) snuggled up right next to them. It was just adorable!

Baby A is certainly giving me lots of things to smile about!

Weekend Chill

It's pretty cold today. I stayed inside.  I did let the dogs out into the garden. One, Sierra, proceeded just to sit down in the snow and cold. I went back inside. She's a Great Pyrenees mix, has a double coat and doesn't seem that bothered by the cold, much like the husky, Sasha. 

It was 3F/-16C with a windchill of  -16F/-27C! Brrr. 

 Goofy Sierra. She wouldn't come in when I called, and I wasn't chasing her around the garden. BTW she did bark when she was ready to come in and I let her right back in. I think she was waiting for her husky buddy Sasha, but Sasha pulled a muscle or something and the vet recommended limited activity for two weeks. Try keeping a husky still for two weeks! The best we can do is limit the time they play together outside so that means one dog outside at a time. 

It's only going to get colder over the next couple of days. Luckily, we do not have to go anywhere. I was hoping to get out for a walk, but I think that's not recommended with the temps so low. I really am missing my walks!

Back in Michigan husband says they have got about 10 inches of snow so far. It's good it happened at the weekend and they don't have to go anywhere. Their temperatures haven't been too bad but I think it's supposed to get colder there - though not as cold as us. 

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It's baby again. She really is delightful. A snuggly armful. Babies just smell so lovely. 

Last night she was awake more than asleep. Baby A and I had a little talk about that today lol. She was awake enough and aware that we had a lovely (albeit one-sided conversation) but she was looking at me and paying attention (I think lol). Daughter slept in and son-in-law kept baby downstairs. So this morning I spent a bit of time doing some crafty stuff. I've been listening to some Charles Paris BBC Audio Dramas while crafting so it was fun. 

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Doing some crafts

It's a little waterfall mini-album using some woodland papers I brought with me. It isn't finished yet, but I'll show more when it is. 

What plans do you have for the weekend? How's the weather where you are? 

My sister said she had a little snow in Ipswich last Monday but it didn't lay and she was thankful as she doesn't like driving in the bad weather and she has to pick up her grandson on Mondays!

Smiling Every Day

Baby A seems to be more aware each day. She is quite a gassy baby and the faces she pulls are so funny! She has this one where she scrunches up her lips into a little o shape. It's utterly adorable. She is awake for little periods and enjoys looking around. The dogs are still a little curious about her. Sasha slept beside her bassinet the other night and seems concerned when she cries. It really is quite sweet!

I actually went out for a walk today - gasp! It was pretty cold. 10F/-12C with a wind chill of -3F/-19C. It was cold but I bundled up - double bottoms, double top, double gloves, hood up and boots. The sun was shining and once I was walking for a bit it didn't seem that bad until one way I went and when I turned around the wind was blowing bitterly in my face. It did feel nice to get out for a bit. I was a little nervous as the roads were a bit icy in place. I'm glad I went out though as there will be a little snow tomorrow and the temperatures dip down at the weekend for a pretty cold high of -4F/-20C and a low of -10F/-24C. Brrr. Back at home in Michigan they are under a Winter Storm Warning - schools have already closed tomorrow - and snow is forecast in the amount of 8-14 inches! It won't be as cold as here, around freezing, but all that snow! I think a little part of me might miss it even though there is some snow here lol. 

I've been reading quite a bit - two more books finished - and doing a little crafting. Daughter found me up a desk/reading lamp so I should be able to see a bit better. The light in the bedroom where I've set up a table to craft on, is not good. Hopefully, I'll get a little bit done. 

Son-in-Law goes back to work next week so I think the plan is that daughter and I will try to get on some sort of schedule. I've been helping out where I can and cooked a few meals. Son-in-law's tastes are a little different from my family so it's taking a little adjustment. He says he isn't a picky eater - ha ha - but there are a lot of things he won't eat. I'm sure it will all work out. 

Phone Photos Things That Make Me Smile

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Keeping an eye on baby at night is such tiring work! She makes me smile. 

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Baby A loves having her hands free. They swaddle the baby when she's sleeping at night as her hands and feet seem to get cold so easily, but when she has them free she moves them all over the place. She has quite the grip too!

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It was lovely to get out today for a walk. The sun was shining and, although it was cold, it felt good to get out!

Monday

Woke up to a bit of snow today. It snowed on and off throughout the day. A lot of the time I enjoyed cuddles with baby. She was a little fussy with wind/gas. She did wake up enough to have a few photos taken. I must admit that I really admire people who do baby photo shoots. They aren't easy! We managed to get a few photos; I hope they turn out okay. I'm sure there will be more in the future. 

I made a Chicken Alfredo thingy for dinner tonight. I think it turned out okay. We put in a Walmart order to pick-up yesterday. There aren't many grocery shops around here and quite a few of them are rather expensive. We went with Walmart, and it turned out okay. Daughter was quite pleased with the quality of the bananas she received as well as the dates on some of the other things. She's thinking about trying out their delivery service and see how that goes as she is thinking that it would be helpful when she does go back to work. She lives out in the country a bit though so she's not sure they will deliver. We will have to see! There is a food shop in her town, but they are quite expensive and what they have is limited. 

Last night, after everyone had gone to bed, I did a little crafting, but it didn't last for long as I was quite tired! Not sure I'll do any tonight as it's quite late already. I did start another book, reading it while I was holding granddaughter. 

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Baby A was awake for a little while today. I got out this little comforter/blankie thing and she seemed to look right at it, batting it with her little hand. It really made me smile!

I'll try to have something not baby related tomorrow, but Baby A is making me smile a lot!

Days Flying By

The days seem to be flying by. We're all trying to get used to having a new baby in the house. Baby A seems to have gotten her days and nights mixed up! She sleeps pretty well during the day and stays awake a lot at nighttime! Poor daughter is tired and still sore. I'm trying to help as much as I can, keeping an eye on Baby A while daughter showers or sleeps. I think Baby A is having quite a bit of gas too which might be making her a little fussy. I'm sure things will settle down after a while. She also has a bit of a stuffy nose, but the doctor said it was normal. Daughter's husband still has another week off work and he's really a hands-on dad. Obviously as daughter is breast feeding, he can't help with that, but he's helping as much as he can. 

Baby A really is delightful though. She moves around a lot even when she's sleeping! She's had her eyes open more the last couple of days and seems to spend time looking around. The dogs are getting used to her, they seem a little startled when she cries. Sasha, the husky, sits by her living room bassinet while she's sleeping and seems quite curious about her. I think daughter and her husband are quite pleased how the dogs are adjusting. 

I haven't been out for walks. There has been some snow overnight and I'm sure you all know how I feel about driving in the snow! I have been working on photography projects while I have some spare time and doing a bit of reading. I have a list of photography projects that I want to get done this year. While I'm at daughter's I'm working on organising and labelling my SD cards and re-looking at some older photos. I am missing being out taking photos, but I have been taking quite a few of the baby! It's certainly different for me as I tend to take nature photos. 

Yesterday was #1day12pics. It's something A Year with my Camera does and I am trying to do each month with a theme. This month I chose to do 'New Baby'. My daughter and son-in-law understandably want to limit online photos of the baby so the ones I chose for my twelve photos are details. You can't see her face. 

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Sierra was so tired out by all the baby happenings she fell asleep with her toy close to her. Made me Smile!

7/366 - The first book finish this year! I was actually a little disappointed in it. I usually like the books by this author, but I found this one a little flat. I was glad to be done with it!

End of the Week - Some 2024 Goals

I was going to write this post of the beginning of the year but there was so much more to share. I have been thinking about goals for 2024 so I thought I'd share a few. They aren't absolutes. I won't berate myself if I don't get them done, but they are areas that I want to work on. There will probably be more house things I want to do, but once I know when I'm going home I'll be able to put more of a plan in place. 

These are what I know I want to work on (house)

* I would like to clear the house of 20% of 'things'. 

A lofty goal. I know where I am going to start. I have decided that I am willing to let go of a lot of books. This is one of my tough areas. Books are one of my go-to buys when I'm feeling down. I have been telling myself that I don't need them. I have lots of books on my kindle and there is always the library. I have a LOT of books. They are tucked away everywhere. Even if I got rid of 50% of my books, I'd still have more than I could read in a couple of years (and I read quite a few!). The bookcase downstairs is where I am going to start. 

* Low spend year. 

I'm not doing a no-spend. I honestly don't think that attainable for me. I'd fail miserably and end up going entirely off the wagon. It's more about thinking what's coming into the house and where I am spending money. Husband would like to retire in a few years, so we need to start really thinking about where we are spending money and what's really important to us. We won't have loads of money when he does retire BUT we should be able to pay bills and have a little extra. We don't eat out a lot or go to bars, but I (yes, mainly me) do tend to buy 'stuff' - books, crafty things - and I want to get into the mindset to really think about what I am spending or bringing into the house. If you think about it, this goal is connected to the goal above. 

* Ebay selling

I've been doing a bit of Ebay selling - for some of Jane's stuff and for some of my craft items. I really want to continue this, but I need to get organised and if it doesn't sell within x amount of time it needs to leave the house. This also couples with the first item as the cleared bookshelf will hold (organised so I know where things are and so they aren't cluttering up other areas of the house) Ebay items. 

* Craft Room 

This really needs to be sorted this year. I'm determined to have a low (really low) spend craft year and to sell or donate extra items. It makes me feel a little bad as I spent money on these things - which is why I'd like to try Ebay-ing them first and I have had good success especially with some cross stitch things - but having a full craft room does not make me feel crafty or productive! It's time to use it or lose it. 

I have a whole other list of photography goals but that will wait until another post! If I do want to accomplish some of my goals, I also have to work on time management and how I can do things I want with those things I need to get done. We'll see!

If nothing else, being away from home is giving me a clearer head to see where I want things to go!

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Phone Photos - Things That Make Me Smile

Another joyful day, lots of granddaughter time, but also a chance to get out for a walk while they went to the doctors and picked up SIL's Mother. I walked down by the river. It was nice to get outside

Only a little bit of ice on the Mississippi River. Usually it's pretty icy at this time of year!

Back tomorrow!

A Quick Post

Thanks for all the congratulations. I'm behind on replying to comments. Daughter, Son-in-law and Baby A came home today.  I got to hold my granddaughter in my arms! I had forgotten how small babies are.  It's been years since I held one.  I have been enjoying the time I had with her today and trying to help out as much as I can. 

Quite tired tonight as the last few nights with the dogs have provided interrupted sleep.  So I'll post more tomorrow! Now I'm off to bed.  

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There been a lot to smile about today.  It's been quite a joyful day.

The thing that really made me smile today was holding this lovely girl in my arms 

Things Don't Always Go To Plan

 I was going to do a post today about plans and goals for the New Year, but I won't be doing that post today. 

Drum Roll....I'm a Nana!!!

Daughter had her baby girl yesterday morning. She went into labour on New Years Day and went into the hospital that same day. Baby A arrived yesterday morning. She is lovely. I'm not sharing photos, just because I'm not sure they want me to. I was very anxious all New Year's Day waiting for news. Son-in-law kept me up to date with what was happening, and I was really grateful for that!

I've been busy dog sitting. They take a lot of energy! The new family comes home tomorrow so we'll see how the dogs do with the new baby. SIL stopped by today and brought home a hat that the baby has worn so that the dogs know her smell. I went out for a walk today. I needed to get out of the house for a bit. It was quite chilly but it was certainly nice to walk. 

Oh, I should say baby was 8lb 8oz and 20 inches long! 

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Seeing blue skies while anxiously waiting for news of the delivery. 

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I've been happy dancing all of yesterday and today because of the good news. So relieved! I can't wait to meet her tomorrow!

Dancing on air. Back tomorrow. 

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a lovely New Year's Eve. We managed to stay up until Midnight. I celebrated first with a surprise video call from my sister. I ended up crying. Sigh. I always find New Year's Eve rough as Mum and I used to celebrate together listening to Big Ben ringing in the New Year and telling each other we would see each other later in the year. Later on husband and two sons wished me a Happy New Year as the ball dropped in New York. Daughter lives in another time zone, one hour behind Michigan, so we had to sit up another hour to see in the New Year here! Phew. 

I am still working on my goals for the New Year. I'm still thinking about the choice of a word for the year. Sadly I don't seem to do too well with those! Hopefully I'll share the goals in tomorrow's post. 

Anybody else have goals for the New Year? 

I am going to do Phone Photos Things That Make Me Smile 365 or rather 366 again this year. I missed doing it last year. It does make me look for something to make me smile even when things seem rough.

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Sierra made me smile today. She's so goofy. 

Back tomorrow.