puzzles and paper

 I cannot figure out why some of my photos flip when I post them.  It bothers me - but I haven't been able to figure out why or how to stop them.  So you get a side view of the Wizard of Oz puzzle.  We completed all of the puzzles that we had - with winter weather still hanging around - so I went puzzle shopping.  This one I had to get - it even came in a cute tin can.

 I think one of the reasons I keep folding origami cranes (besides I seem to be obsessed - and a little crazy about them) - is the beautiful paper.  I love how they look when I get a bunch of them done.

I can find a lot of joy in small, random things . . . I like that.

an early Valentine . . .

 Love this window display!

This just makes me laugh . . . and I just noticed that he had wings.  Of course he would have wings. 

I'm becoming the Crane Lady

 I have been wanting to hang up and display some of the origami cranes that I folded.  I actually would like to do something with all 1000 of them - we'll see how that goes.  It seems like I am spending an awful lot of time on these paper birds - but there is something about them I simply enjoy.

 I am all about using what I have on hand these days.  So an old embroidery hoop, some floss, and some beads - and I have a way to display about 100 of the cranes.

 Rather simple - but I love how it looks when the sun shines through the window. 

One of my friends made a comment that I must have a lot of time on my hands.  Not really - I simply try to take the time to do something that I enjoy and find relaxing - crocheting, knitting, scrap booking . . . lately it is 1000 paper cranes.  Oh yeah . . . and I can get somewhat obsessive with things.  If you are going to do something - do the best you can and do it all the way!

So until I tire of these lovely origami birds - I will continue to post about them - and fold them.  I am going to fold another 1000 - I have a project I just started - you can read about it here - http://chs1000cranes.blogspot.com/

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” ~ Buddah

Hello Kitty

 Hello Kitty!  There are also Hello Kitty decals on the door handles.  Way cute!

  . . . and hello Stella.  This is Stella having a quiet moment.  I know she sleeps - but more often than not she is awake and involved in everything we do.

Luke and Abbie put this sweater on her.  She was not happy at all!  She tried to back out of it and nearly fell of the top of the refrigerator.  This cat is the biggest pain - but the most lovable pain ever.  

No Whining - Use Cold-EEZE!

Best advertisement for cold medicine I have seen - this was actually in the box of lozenges.   LOL 

Richard has a cold this week - and I can identify with Sara H. from West Bloomfield, MI

another puzzle down

This is another one of my dad's puzzles - that Jake finished. I always liked this one. I think Jake more or less did this one by himself. They are now working on another round puzzle - the moon. I remember doing that one with dad and it was a hard one. We are really getting into the puzzles this winter - maybe the 28 degree temperatures that we had this week play into that. It is much nicer to stay inside where it is warm.

Saturday

 Richard is going to make a bench for the back yard using this log that he cut in half.  He started working on it yesterday, but didn't get very far.  It started to hail and then just poured - so the bench was put off until today.  We made chili and watched movies instead - a good way to spend a cold, rainy Saturday.

 I started stringing my cranes together.  I love how they look - but it is going to take longer than I thought.  1000 doesn't seem like that big of a number until you fold 1000 paper cranes . . . count 1000 paper cranes . . . and string 1000 paper cranes.  I think I got about 100 of them done yesterday.  I am not sure what I am going to do with them when I am finished.  I actually am going to fold 1000 more - but I am going to do something different with them.  I will explain what when I get them started.

playing with food again . . .

I have this thing about drawing in my soup.
I had happy soup . . .

. . . and zombie soup.

I am so easily entertained.

1000 paper cranes

I am finished . . . this one is #1000!
I am going to string them - maybe with some beads, but I had to take some pictures once I knew I hit 1000.

. . . according to Japanese legends I now get a wish . . . I can't tell - it may not come true.

"This is our cry, this is our prayer - Peace in the world." ~Sadako Sasaki

enjoying an extra day off

I have really enjoyed this three day weekend. I have gotten a lot done around the house - but also have taken the time each morning to sleep in a little bit and just enjoy the morning. Jake introduced me to Carmel Brullee creamer . . . so good!
A cup of coffee - some yogurt - and this morning Richard brought me a yummy pastry for breakfast. So I am going to enjoy this last morning (back to work tomorrow) - even though I still have so much to do around the house. It will be there later - right?

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it." ~ Sydney J. Harris

midnight snack . . .

Actually it was only 10:00 - Luke started cooking. He made some spicy chicken wings and cooked up some vegetables. I took one look and knew it would taste even better if . . . "I put an egg on it!" Richard teases me about putting eggs on everything - leftover Chinese food, potato skins, mashed potatoes, etc. Added a little hot sauce - it was great!

Friday the 13th . . .

She's not a black cat that will bring you bad luck if she crosses your path . . . she is none other than Stella who will bring you joy and laughter if you can tolerate her personality and antics. I am not a superstitious person - oh I have my own silly things I do that I guess could be considered to be superstitions - but I do not believe in bad luck, or that Friday the 13th is a day to worry about. Any day that is associated with a black cat can't be all bad. So here's to today - and here's to a three day weekend!

can't help myself

So maybe folding 1000 cranes is leading to an obsession for me. I usually put a few pieces of origami paper in my bag and bring them to work with me - If I am on hold while on the phone or take a break - I use the time to fold some cranes. So this morning I forgot to stick some paper in my bag and I had gotten to work 30 minutes early . . . so I cut newspaper in order to have something to fold. I have used post it notes before, and small note pads. Maybe . . . just maybe I am a little overboard with the origami cranes. : )

random stuff from yesterday

American Gothic puzzle complete . . . . Luke and Abbie started another one (1000 pieces). Jigsaw puzzles and movies seem to be the rage at our house this winter. Stella the cat keeps jumping up on the coffee table and trying to steal pieces of the puzzles. She will grab one in her mouth and take off running. She also keeps us entertained.
These sandwiches were delicious. I had some pork chops that I needed to use - so I just threw them in the crock pot with homemade BBQ sauce and added cheese and peppers to make sandwiches.

I got some pretty new highlighters in the mail at work. This company always sends a free gift with their catalogs and it is usually something sort of goofy - these I like.

Is it Monday already?

I don't think Sadie wanted us to go to work today.

still folding

I have loved this legend ever since reading about it. I am nearly done folding my 1000 cranes - I think I have about 65 to go . . . I will have to recount to be sure. And then . . . I will probably fold 1000 more. There is something very calming about folding them. It started out at sort of a challenge to fold that many - but now it is something I really enjoy.

I have loved this legend and the idea of folding 1000 cranes ever since I read about it. I am almost there and then I can start stringing them. I think I have about 65 more to go.
The crane in Japan is a mystical or holy creature that is said to live for a thousand years. Ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand cranes will be granted a wish - such a a long life or recovery from an injury or illness.
The 1000 cranes are traditionally given as a wedding gift from the father who is wishing a thousand years of happiness and prosperity for the couple getting married. They can also be gifted to a baby for a long life and good luck.
A Senbazuru is a group of 100 cranes held together by strings. Hanging a Senbazuru in ones home is said to be a powerful lucky and benevolent charm.
In western countries the has been extended to giving the cranes to cancer patients and to using them at funerals and on graves.

864 and folding

865 . . . 866 . . . 867 . . . 868 . . . 869 . . . 870 . . .
I counted my cranes today and folded a few more. I was online this morning and remembered the story of Sadako Sasaki - I couldn't remember her name, but it didn't take me long to find it and her story.
http://gimundo.com/news/article/one-thousand-paper-cranes-for-peace-the-story-of-sadako-sasaki/
I have a lot on my mind today . . . a little origami therapy was just what I needed.

"I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world." ~ Sadako Sasaki

10 good things today . . .

1. A new pair of jeans that I really like - 2. It's Friday . . . Hello weekend! - 3. Getting off work early (even if it is for a Dr's. appointment) - 4. Coffee (and this blue cup that matches my sweatshirt perfectly - Blue Jay Blue!) - 5. The sun is shining - 6. Richard making me oatmeal this morning - he even threw in almonds and craisins - 7. My neck warmer - heated in the microwave - making my neck and headache feel better - 8. Eating Chinese food tonight - 9. Folding paper cranes . . . I am counting them tonight to see how close I am to 1000 - 10. My job . . . I work with great people!

a little more pink

Call me silly . . . but I get excited over simple things like this pink bubble wrap. I have never seen it in any color before. Bubble wrap in itself is fun - PINK . . . even better! A few pink cranes because I needed some origami therapy yesterday.

I can't believe it is Thursday already. I have been back to work only two days and my house is a mess, my pile at work seems to just get bigger, and as much as I hate to admit it - I am tired. But I am in a good place today. I will whip the house into shape as soon as I can, work always gets done one way or another, and as far as being tired - I suppose I need to go to bed early. . . probably won't happen. : )

last night of vacation

It was back to work this morning. (EARLY THIS MORNING - UGH!) I decide that since I was probably going to be tired anyway that I would just stay up like I have been doing and enjoy the last few hours of my vacation. This is a picture of what Abbie was sewing the other night. I decided since I was staying up late that I would make one for Kasey. She is always cold. Simply sew together - then sew into sections and fill each section with rice - and sew closed. She loved it.
Two minutes in the microwave and you have a wonderful warmer. I actually took mine to bed with me last night just to help me get warm . . . when I finally went to bed at 2:00 . . .

. . . after helping Luke finish this 1000 piece puzzle. I had to smile when he brought this puzzle out. It was one of my dad's. If you look close you can see two very white pieces. Evidently it was missing a couple of pieces - so he cut replacement pieces out with his jigsaw. I can just see him doing that. I actually am hoping that there is another puzzle started when I get home this afternoon.

Abbie sews

I taught Abbie how to use my sewing machine last night. She had never used one - she did a great job. I'm not even sure to call what she made . . . a neck warmer I guess . . . a simple rectangle sewn into sections that you put rice in - that you can then heat up in the microwave. They are wonderful to put on your neck or anywhere else you would like to apply heat - or just stick in your bed when it it cold. Again it was late when she finished and I didn't think to take a picture (what kind of blogger am I?). Fun night!

2012 - day one

No resolutions . . . if I were to make any it would be things that I should be doing or not doing anyway. I got out of the habit of exercising when I had my surgery - but I am back at that again - I've been walking and playing tennis and it feels so good. I have had two wonderful weeks off from work and that all ends on Tuesday. That is a good thing . . . I have been staying up way to late, drinking way to much coffee, and eating things that I know I shouldn't. Once I am back at work I will leave all my bad vacation habits behind.

I find myself getting a little down these days, but I tend to do that this time of year. In the past - this is the time of year I would go to a tanning bed, but never again. So I am left to deal with my winter mood in different (and much healthier ways). The exercise really helps, keeping busy, and no matter what my mood - PRAYER!

2011 was a crazy year for me - and it feels good to be able to wind it all up and put the year officially behind me. Happy New Year!

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and the first chapter is New Year's Day." ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce

quiet new year's eve

A quick bike ride to the store with Luke
Luke and Abbie

Finished bird puzzle

Cream puffs - I took this picture but forgot to take a picture of them finished - probably because it was after midnight and I was just anxious to eat one.