little fancy ghost . . .

I guess I never quite give up this blog and never go away completely.

Life is always busy for me . . . so even though they are far and few between,

posts will pop up here when I have the chance.  

This fancy little ghost is part of the Year of Enchantment hosted by Yarnigras Swapper Spot.

Each month we have a different Halloween theme.  

January's theme was a haunted ornament.  

I put this off until the last minute . . . so went with something simple - a ghost.  

She is pink, a little fancy with her rhinestone eyes, 

and I hope . . . also a little creepy looking.  

February's theme is "vicious plants" . . . I think that one will be fun.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

permission slip . . .

Doodle!

Celebrate!

Give your self permission to . . . .

BE YOURSELF!

 

button love . . .

"Be the person who can smile 

on the worst day."

~ Cate

gonna be all right . . .

This is another doll that I started some time ago.

I just need to figure out what I am going to do with her 

now that she has this crazy smile stitched on her face.

Never give up on anything that makes you smile.

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Were there any good things today?

There had to be - right?

It doesn't take much to be a "good thing" . . . a cup of coffee, 

a smile from someone,  a good book,

finding joy in the every day stuff . . . right?  

So, why has today been hard for me?  I do know why . . . and I am stronger than that!

So . . . 

Coffee . . . and it tasting better when Richard makes it

Finishing a book - which ended so much better than I thought it would

Walking in the rain . . . even if it was just sprinkling

Working through a rough day . . .

Recording a lip sync video of myself for a project.  LOL  (Bob Marley , Three Little Birds)

"Don't worry, about a thing, 

"Cause every little thing is gonna be all right."

so happy together . . .

 I had to give my girl skeleton with the big pink bow a partner.

Everybody needs somebody!

pretty little ladies . . .

I am dressing some of my skeletons up for Halloween . . . 

I am not going to want to put these two away once Halloween is over.  :)

Happy Monday!

Happy October!

happy new year . . .

I love new beginnings . . . big or small.

I love starting a new school year at work . . . using a new journal . . . moving into a new house.  (I haven't done this in years, but the first few years of our marriage - Richard was in the Navy - so we moved often).  I always liked unpacking and making a new place our home.  He accuses me of recreating this feeling on a regular basis by rearranging or redecorating . . . or reorganizing closets just because I get in a mood. He's probably right.  So a NEW YEAR . . . I have to love it - right? . . . I do, but to be honest this New Year hasn't really felt like a new beginning to me.  Maybe because I had my mom visiting me for a couple of months and I had to say good bye to her . . . and right after that I got sick.
 . . . or maybe some years are just like that.  

So I find myself 17 days into this year without the usual feeling of a new beginning. 

A few years back I started choosing a “Word for the Year”.

Now that I am feeling better, maybe that is a good place to start my new year . . . choosing a new word. 

Last year I chose the word FAITH.  I was feeling like I needed to worry less . . . and let my faith get me through things.  It may have been a case of “be careful what you wish for” 
. . . because I definitely had to draw on my faith.

I watched my son deal with some things in his personal life which hurt him and tested him.  I am happy to say he got through it and because of his own faith he keeps moving forward.  It is hard for me to watch my children hurt – even if they are adults and I know that life can be hard and I know they will get through it and life will eventually get better for them again.  Sometimes all I can do is love them, let them know that I am there if they need me, and pray!  I prayed a lot last year!

Then there was Richard.  A few years ago he was diagnosed with throat cancer.  Unfortunately he had a recurrence this past year . . . and according to his doctor, “It came back with a vengeance.”  
Did I mention I prayed a lot last year!

Two rounds of chemo and 45 radiation treatments later . . . beardless, weighing 30 pounds less, and not being able to taste anything . . . he made it through that.  His scans continue to come back clean and we are thankful each and every time they do.  His strength and determination through his treatments was amazing.  He has gotten a little wacko since his treatments ended . . . we are dealing with that.  I am finding that the hardest thing about dealing with him having cancer has come after the treatments.  This seems to be true for both of us.  Life can be hard and I know we will get through it and life will eventually be better again . . . WAIT!!  Life is better again!

Let’s see . . . after that Richard tore his rotator cuff and had to have surgery.  In light of the cancer – this seemed like a small thing, but it is has been a little trying not having him able to do the things he normally does.  It was during this recovery that he made the comment that he hopes this next year is better than this past year.  I have to agree, but . . . This past year ended with Richard being cancer free, we have a beautiful new granddaughter, his beard grew back, I have amazing children and grandchildren who I see regularly, and in spite of whatever life throws at me I have a faith that gets me through.  Now more than ever I realize we have to celebrate the good days and love each other through the bad ones. 

So my word for next year . . .

CHANGE

I have some very personal reasons for choosing that word . . . and if I get in the right mood I may just tell you all about them. 

Peace Tree

I absolutely love my Christmas tree this year. 

 I didn't get everything made that I wanted to put on it - so it isn't quite as full as I would have liked it to be . . . but I will add to it next year.  I will also start a little sooner.  

This was sort of a last minute idea and I still was in the process of making pom poms when we brought the tree home.  We got it in the stand and Charlotte was ready to decorate the tree right then . . . 

. . . so we decorated the tree - ready or not.

For me decorating a tree with my 5 year old granddaughter is mostly about letting her decorate how she wants.  This tree is so kid friendly . . . and we had so much fun!  

We added a few ornaments that I had to fill it it and set the tree in front of this tapestry . . .  I LOVE IT!

We are calling it our PEACE tree!

If you notice the little doll toward the top.  I won her in a Giveaway on Instagram @ b3twixt.  

Check out her dolls in her ETSY shop - B3twixtByJessi 

I like the idea of a WISH doll . . . now what to wish for?

happy busy . . .

I am reading . . . and making things . . . and painting little girls nails . . . and painting . . . and planting flowers and a few vegetables . . . I am just not documenting any of it very well. 

I am hoping to be better about that . . . but for now I am just enjoying being "happy busy".

I am reading etta and otto and russell and james.  A friend recommended it to me and so far I am really enjoying it.  I bought six new books to read last week . . . I've been in that sort of mood - two down . . . four more to go.

I am also working on some t-shirt quilts that I started ages ago.  I decided that since I was in the mood to finish them that I would also make one for my daughter-in-law with some t-shirts she had kept.  So fun and easy to make . . . I am not sure why it has taken me so long to finish them.  It will feel good to get them done and start on something new.

Have a wonderful day . . . 

Find JOY in the small stuff! (like this wonderful tin full of pins)

not a post about onesies . . .

This was supposed to be a post with pictures of cute onesies that I appliqued for my new granddaughter Avery . . . with matching hair bands, but I actually forgot to take pictures of them.  How do I forgot to take pictures of anything????  I am still trying to figure that one out.  Plus I didn't even realize that I hadn't taken pictures of them for a couple of days.  What is with me?  I am pretty sure I must have been thinking only about giving them to her . . . and more importantly - just excited to go see her.  So maybe I will get pictures of them later . . . if not - they turned out really cute and I am hoping to make some more.  So instead . . . you get pictures of my Turmeric Tea . . .  or Turmeric Milk may be a more accurate description.  I have made something similar before, but I really like this recipe and having been drinking it consistently.  Turmeric is supposed to help with inflammation as well as having other health benefits.  How much it helps??? - but it is worth a try.

Plus this is just fun to make every night.  

Richard commented that I was mixing up some witches brew . . . maybe it was the moon and star spoon that gave him that idea.  (The spoon belonged to my grandma . . . and I love using it.) 

 He did agree though that this tastes pretty good.  

You start out by making a turmeric paste . . . that keeps in the refrigerator up to two weeks.

Someone else commented while looking in my refrigerator . . . that it does look like something else.  But we won't go there . . . . because who would keep a jar of that in their refrigerator?  :)

Paste Recipe

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup turmeric

Simmer on low 7-10 minutes.

Store in glass container in refrigerator.  Will keep up to two weeks.

Turmeric Mild Recipe:

2 cups coconut milk

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. coconut oil

1 tsp. - 1 Tbsp. turmeric paste

1 tsp. chopped fresh ginger

4-6 peppercorns

1 pinch stevia

Whisk ingredients together in sauce pan over low heat.

Simmer for 10 minutes - stirring occasionally.

Strain.  Top with cinnamon.

The coconut milk tends to make this a little thick.  I have found that I like it better if I use a little less coconut milk and add a little water.  (1 1/2 cup coconut milk and 1/2 cup water)

Watch out spilling this stuff . . . it turns everything yellow and I would advise using glass bowls not plastic ones . . . just so they don't stain.  

No onesie pictures . . . but here is one of our new baby girl.

She is already a month old. 

Dream big little girl . . .  

Spring Break . . .

 Spring Break meant a week off from work.  It also meant dying Easter eggs, going to the park, planting, painting flower pots, and holding babies.  

The days spent with my granddaughters are the best days.  Throw in some beautiful Spring weather and I have come to believe . . . that life doesn't get any better!

"Just living is not enough . . . 

one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

~ Hans Christian Andersen

It all starts with one little bead . . .

 Jake and Kasey wanted a dream catcher to hang in Avery's nursery.  (No Avery yet, but very soon.)

I don't  think I would have ever made a dream catcher otherwise . . . and I'm not sure if I will ever make another one . . . although I do have some ideas.  

 All the beads on the table inspired Lily to make a necklace.  She spent the night this weekend . . . so we painted . . . and beaded . . . and read . . . and stayed up late eating popcorn and drinking root beer.

Fun Night!

I've been folding these cranes from old book pages . . . hoping to get enough to fill up a tree this coming Christmas.  I have over 200 so far . . . I think I will have enough by December.  

origami . . . charlotte . . . and ramen

 Charlotte saw me folding paper cranes and wanted to make some herself.  She told the that she liked origami and she wanted to do it all by herself.  

She asked for a little help at first . . . then decided that she was able to do it . . . 

. . . so well in fact, that she folded this "origami bubble gum."

I love ramen . . . I have a weakness for ramen.  I think I could eat it nearly everyday.

So finally decided to find a recipe and make some.  It turned out pretty good . . . and I can't wait to make it again and try something a little different. 

. . . .and - if you haven't seen the movie - Ramen Girl - find it and watch it! 

A bowl of ramen is a self-contained universe with life from the sea, the mountains, and the earth. All existing in perfect harmony. Harmony is essential. What holds it all together is the broth. The broth gives life to the ramen.

~ Maezumi, Ramen Girl