It's Monday...

Here I am...home where it's warm and out of the bitterly cold blowing snow. I have a sick child at home with me, it's Andrew, home with a stomach bug. The men in this family rarely get ill but when they do, it's got to be something pretty yucky. I really hate cleaning up vomit, as a matter of fact it's well known in this house that I do NOT clean up that kind of yuck since I am notorious at being a sympathetic vomiter.

Now for me to have some hot tea and to relax while Andrew is sleeping. Poor thing, he's truly ill.

Quote of the day

Very little is needed to make a happy life.
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121 AD - 180 AD), Meditations

Super Bowl Sunday

It's funny how one project spreads and before I knew it, my husband (finally) got all of the stuff from the storage area from under the stairs out...so we could reorganize it. You see, we've just been shoving stuff under there since November. It was insanely messy in there, no rhyme or reason and definitely no organization. So... as I was clearing out stuff and rearranging things in my scrapbook nook, my husband kept bringing in all sorts of things in to my scrapbook nook for me to look at- ugh! We have managed to get 90% of the storage area organized, but still have a few boxes left to go through and that will go quickly.

Now for me to go through the pile of stuff that was left on my counter top (grrr). I've got 4 things I want to accomplish while the Super Bowl is going on (I'm not even sure what time the game is going to be on). Okay so I just went to the Super Bowl official site and it says something like 8 hours and 50 minutes (there's a ticker at the top right hand corner). So now for me to get ready for church and then back here to get the Super Bowl nibbles made up and ready to gobble up later on then I can get on to those 4 things I want to accomplish...
1- finish cleaning the scrapbook nook
2-posting pictures of the clean nook to my blog
3- finish a couple of my sewing projects
4- start on my quilting project

My Cookbook Nook: Sandie's Super Bowl Snacks

My Cookbook Nook: Sandie's Super Bowl Snacks

Come check out what yummy things I have in store for my family today while they sit in front of the TV watching the Super Bowl!

Quote of the Day

"People often say that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder,' and I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder. This empowers us to find beauty in places where others have not dared to look, including inside ourselves."
~Salma Hayek

The Reorganization of my Scrapbook Nook

I want to be able to have a well organized scrapbook nook, one where I can work on all of my hobbies. I also want to be able to store all of my hobbies in this space. With that comes some rearranging and changing around of the space. We've been in this house for 10 months and it hasn't been until recently that I've even thought of storing my sewing machine in this space. I want to be able to create, sew, paint and everything in my craft room. But the more stuff I bring into it the more cramped it was feeling (and looking).

As I've written before, Scrapbook Lane in Rapid City, SD is closing it's doors for good. My dear friend (and partner in crime) Kim picked me up yesterday afternoon and off we went to Scrapbook Lane again...this time I went to look at something else...paper racks. I bought a tall standing 8½x11 heavy duty wire paper rack, this takes up much less floor space than my current 8½x11 paper storage system. To my total surprise, not all of my 8½x11 cardstock collection fits it it, LOL! That tells me a couple of things, first and foremost to stop hoarding cardstock and secondly that I need to be making more cards and fast!

So after I changed out my 8½x11 paper storage systems, I've decided to take out one of the tall 5 drawer carts on wheels. I'm going to put it in the office closet to store table linens (waste not want not). I'm reorganizing what I have stored in those drawers in my craft room. Pulling out all kinds of goodies looking at them and there's NO hemming & hawing for me, it's decide right there on the spot. If I don't have room for it or haven't used it in ages...out it goes!

I hope to post pictures by this afternoon of the new improved over all look and feel of my Scrapbook Nook.

Quilting...

Stepping into only the 2nd quilting store I've ever been to in my life... you know- the one I've driven past for almost 5 years for fear I'd be hooked for life on quilting. Remember how I found the other store so delightful, times that feeling by 10. Every lady in that store was charming, was ever so helpful and answered my questions with a smile. I could tell that they were happy with where they were working, indulging in a passion that has so many followers. I went in there to get a spool of nice quality thread and well the rest is history. I first saw a table runner that was hearts (it made my heart skip a beat), then there was the quilted heart wall hanging. Oh my gosh I wanted to make them both right there on the spot! After spending close to an hour Ooohing and Aaahhing in that quilt shop, I most certainly AM going to take a class at this place, it's fantastic!!! I bought another quilt pattern and name of it is cracking me up- its called "Cheese and Crackers" and I fell in love with it once I saw it! This quilt is made using fat quarters- I can do that, LOL! The pattern is by Atkinson Designs, click on the name and see what other designs they have, they're all very inspiring! The picture of the little fabric rainbow are the actual fabrics that I have picked to make this quilt. I'm making the lap size (start small dream big is my motto). I aspire one day to be able to make Christmas Quilts for every bed in our house.

Quote of the day

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.
Abigail Adams (1744 - 1818), 1780

Crafting projects

I've always been one that needs creative outlets. I've never been happy with just one source of creativity, I like to try new things. One of the first craft things I ever did was sewing, the 2nd was embroidery, not cross stitching but real honest to goodness embroidery. I can crochet but knitting is something that I have not yet learned to do. If you check out Hillary's blog (link to the left) she has started knitting and LOVES it! Once upon a time (a very long time ago) I had made some simple quilting projects. I know that I've stated that I'm afraid to get into quilting as- it's expensive, it's time consuming and highly addictive :-) What I don't want to do is to end up with as much fabric hanging around as I have cardstock and patterned paper.

So where am I going with this right? well yesterday while I was out I stopped by the Quilt Corral Too- Rapid City's newest quilting fabric store. Oh my gosh the excitement of seeing all of those beautiful colors and patterns ran through me like an electric current. I was raised onto my tip toes and smiling ear to ear. This is the feeling I get when I go into Archivers in the Mall of America, LOL! I've purposely avoided going into any of the quilting stores out here only because I know that I'd be instantly hooked! So with that thought, I'm going to go to the other 2 (or it it 3) quilting stores in town today. You see I bought a quilting pattern yesterday while I was at the Sewing Center (the store next to quilt corral too). Here's the pattern
it's called Bloomsbury Park, the colors they used to make this table runner are so rich and vibrant. I plan on making this for our buffet/sofa table. The colors mimic my Fiestaware and they make me think of Spring and Summer. I'm going out to look at fabric to make this project and will check into how much this little project of mine is going to set me back. I've made a promise to myself that I will not hoard fabric like I have done with scrapbooking supplies. That I will only buy enough to make my project and that's it!

Quote of the Day

Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.
Cecil B. DeMille (1881 - 1959)

interesting scientific news...

all blue eyed people are related click on the link and it'll take you over to the article at Fox News and read the story...it's an interesting read for science geeks and people into science trivia.

Blogs, Bloggers and comments

This morning I've gone through and read posts from all of my girlfriends blogs (see side listing) and have left comments. Too many times I just read and don't leave a comment- I'm going to make an effort to leave comments on a more regular basis...now if only some of them would just post on a more regular basis, LOL!

My friend Cindy posted a lovely picture on her blog of her husband Allen and herself at the Awards banquet last week, please click on the highlighted link to see it....they are such a beautiful couple (and the nicest people you could ever make friends with).

Susan surprised me by posting to her blog today.... I love her satirical wit as it always makes me smile. I found her post today quite funny and I certainly got a kick out reading it. Susan, if you're reading this...people live there because hundreds of years ago the land was FREE and they didn't have the common sense to leave when it got so darn cold.

I started using feedjit so I could see where everyone is from- I see that some only list their country and not their hometown or state. Much like Kate (scrap and knit) I too wish that folks who visit my blog would leave comments (preferably not negative ones) about what brought you to my blog and where you're from.

Quote of the Day

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart.
~Helen Keller

our new Travel Journal

Here it is, my 2008 family travel journal. Some Bazzill cardstock and a piece of tropical print paper that I've had hanging around for a while, rub on some distressing ink from Tim Holtz, some foam stamps from Making Memories and an exclusive stamp from 3 Scrappy Boys (The "these moments" stamp). I used one of those composition books and there it is.

My intention is that all 4 of us will write in this book daily about our views on the vacation. But if it's anything like our last family vacation...it'll be just me writing in this travel journal, LOL!

It's Chick Day

Here I am, home with a sick child. Picked her up from school yesterday with a temperature of 103º and we've been battling the fever ever since. This head-cold of hers is making her much like a crabby little grizzly bear. She's been growling at the fact that she feels crummy, well maybe if she's take the medicine she would start to feel better.


So what will I be doing today? Once I get Hannah's fever and horrifically running nose under control we'll be doing some crafts, baking the obligatory feel good brownies , creating fruit smoothies and just hanging out doing "chick stuff".

Here's something we just worked on, go to http://www.mms.com/ (click on the link) and make your own m&m person- it's a laugh riot! The pink one is myself and the blue one is my daughter's.

Quote of the Day

Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow.
~Jeff Valdez

This quote really had me laughing this morning...can you picture it? Eight cats pulling a sled?

Flowering plants in winter

I have no clue as to what kind of plant this is (something I brought back from Hawaii in 2005). Then all of a sudden a couple of weeks ago it started blooming. Today I noticed a couple more little blossoms on it. Anyone out there have any idea what the name of this plant is?

It's nice to have flowering plants when it's so bitterly cold outside. I like to deem it as a peek into Spring. Even my Geraniums and Azaleas are blooming!

How to make your own stationary

One of the things I love to do is to make my own stationary. You can purchase the paper at any stationary store (we have Office Depot and Office Max here in Rapid City), I personally like to use the paper that has a linen like finish to it, but what ever kind you buy will be fine, just make sure that it's a heavier weight paper that can handle heat embossing (24 lb writing paper), lighter weight papers will scorch or worse yet catch on fire (trust me I know, LOL). For this project I've purchased Wausau Paper -Royal Linen (it has an embossed linen finish) in the 100 sheet box. Since I couldn't make up my mind, I bought both white and ivory. I make stationary as gifts and when paired with a nice ink pen and some envelopes, it makes both a terrific and thoughful gift. I like to tie the stationary and envelopes together with a wide piece of ribbon or raffia and have the pen clipped onto the ribbon/raffia.

Start with an 8½x11 piece of paper and cut it to 5½x4¼ when folded in half this stationary paper will fit into an A2 envelope (you can even find these envelopes at your Wal-Mart).

I like to use a larger sized stamp,but any stamp will do as long as it's not too detailed. I like to go with nature type stamps but use the kind that suits your own personal tastes. One way is to use Versamark water mark ink and another is heat embossed. See my examples of a flower and the other of cattails. Now that you've seen my examples, go off and make some of your own personalized stationary! Click on the images to see them closer.

Emergency Closure

We had a little emergency at the Thrift Shop which forced us to close our doors. The ceramic tile flooring near the front door started cracking and rising. Needless to say we ushered our customers out through our back door and called C. E. (civil engineering) and informed them of our "problem". We're still unsure if it's frozen pipes or some other structural problem. But the flooring is swelling/rising and when I left it was about 12 to 15 feet in length and at least 5 feet in width and still spreading. Ceramic tiles are broken in half and were shattering while we were there, talk about freaky. I hope to hear back from CE and see what the problem is and when it will be fixed.

It's just COLD!

Experiencing winter in South Dakota is much different from the years I spent in Maine or even California and the winters in those places. Yesterday a cold front came in and within 3 hours time the temperatures had dropped from 54º with a slight breeze to 5º with winds steady NNW at 50 MPH and gusts to 65 MPH knocking the temperature to feeling like it was -25º. My patio furniture (which I should call deck furniture since it's on a deck) was flying about. A stack of 4 chairs came flying at me and struck the sliding glass door with such force that I thought it was going to break the glass. Our gas grill which is chained to the railing of our deck (to keep it from falling over in such winds) had indeed fallen over. The sturdy metal hooks used to keep it tied to the railings had stretched out and were no longer hooks but a bent and now loosely open thing that resembled the letter "C". Empty clay flower pots were strewn across our backyard as if they weighed no more than a dried leaf. The children helped me to gather the chairs to our outdoor table and bring them inside. Then they suited up in heavy winter gear and chained the grill to the railing once again but this time using heavy duty locks and not the hooks that once held my pot rack to the ceiling. Those hooks can withstand a great deal of weight but apparently not 50 MPH winds tugging on a heavy gas grill. There does not need to be snow on the ground for it to be horribly cold outside. The winds here are unlike anywhere else I have ever lived. Nor have I experienced the huge drops in temperature that seem to occur out here.

The temperature monitor is at the High School and it's currently -5º and with the windchill it's -27º, now that IS cold indeed! But winter wear has made some serious advances...the technology involved in making insulation for jackets, gloves and hats warmer but keeping the weight and the bulk down to a minimum is amazing! My poor children (especially my daughter who is now coming down with a head cold) will be dressed much like Ralphie's little brother from the movie "A Christmas Story" 2 hats, a big ole scarf wrapped around her face and neck and a very fluffy jacket, she'll be lucky is she can put her arms down. Andrew (who seems to be made from sturdier stock than his delicate sister) braves the cold without much complaining...he dons many layers of cold weather clothing suited for the area, where as his sister prefers to have the "Ski Bunny" look, LOL!

Now as for myself, I've got to figure out what I'm going to wear to keep myself warm today as I have promised to work at the base thrift shop today...have I mentioned that I really hate being cold? That place is going to be like a meat locker today!

So where is my happiness today? It's in knowing that I'm bringing in a picnic lunch for me and a couple of girlfriends. That's I'm in the company of good friends, making the best of a situation (the freezing temperatures). I made my "momma sauce" yesterday and it's going to make a fantastic lunch for Heidi, Kim and myself!