Christmas Tradition

I started this tradition several years ago and wish I would have thought of it when I had my first grandchild.   I've even ask the kids that when they are in their 20s to recreate some of these photos.  How fun would that be!

2017

I'm ready for Christmas.....what, and it's not even Thanksgiving.  What in the world is wrong with me. 

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

Not sure what happened this year.  I think my excuse is, this is the year that Elin was born in December.   Crazy busy with a new baby.

2011

I can't find the picture of the adorable kids wearing these.   It's probably time to reorganize my photos

2010

Has it really been 1 year

Well one year ago today I ended my 40+ year marriage.    It all seems to surreal.   Life has changed a lot in the last year.   I'm happy to say, most of it for the better.   I still have my moments that I'm sad that my marriage was never what I felt a marriage should be.    For all those that have supported me through all this I would like to say thank you.    I couldn't have done it without the support of my loving family and friends.   

When Life Gives You Lemons

That was the theme for my Halloween costume!  Had a great time at a costume party.   I haven't been to a costume party in years.   

When am I ever going to get good at this selfie thing?

Life (aka Karen) and Maleficent (aka Maria)

Life (Karen), Clown (Kathy), Good Witch (Geralyn), Farm Girl (Pat) Malefieent (Maria)

Octoberfest Birthdays!

Blessed to have so many October Birthdays.

First, October 2, Gage turned 9 years old!

Next Birthday October 4.  Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter in law Mindy.....seriously, we live in the same town.   Why do I not have a current picture of you.    I'll share this one with you because it's so stinking cute. 

Next is my wonderful daughter in law Erin on October 6.   How did I get so lucky to have 2 very special girls marry my sons.   

Now we are going to take a week off and celebrate Jeffrey's birthday.   This year it was Friday the 13th, same as 39 years ago when he was born on Friday the 13th.  That's always been my lucky day.

(Seriously, no current pictures of him either)    What's up with that?

Last, but not least, my wonderful grandson Jaxson, October 21.   I can't believe he's 12 years old.  He's the sweetest young man that God ever blew breath into.

Saturday Night Fun with 2 of my Besties

First off, off to see Captain Underpants.   It was a great cartoon and the kids loved it.

After the movie we stopped by the fountains at the Legends and the boys showed their skills playing in the water.

Then closed out the evening with dinner at Fuddruckers.   Yummy!

Enjoying the Scenery

Took a little walk today enjoying the scenery after a very frustrating day.

Tomorrow will be a better day,  it has to be!

Good thing about all this property to take care of is I had over 12,000 steps.  

Maybe I'll actually lose some weight.  

OMG

Ok,  everyone knows that I have a sweet tooth.   Well, how many of us don't.   Sometimes you need just a little something and I found the best thing ever.  It's a single serving cake......and it's delicious.    Cook it in the microwave for 1 minute 10 seconds and yummmmmmmmmmm.  So far I've tried the cinnamon coffee cake and the chocolate lovers cake.   Delicious!

It's just enough to satisfy that sweet tooth, without having to make a full size cake.

My Ball and Chain

I think this is doable.

Friday's Challenge

Well I took the day off today and had lots of stuff planned.   First "Leaky Cellar" was scheduled to come in and fix the leak in my foundation.    They shot the sealant into the cracks but, of course, it started raining today.   We are having a drought and the day I want my foundation worked on it rains.  They couldn't work on taking out the window well with the rain.   That's scheduled for next Tuesday.  The good thing is, they did go ahead and put the sealant in the cracks so step one is done.

Second thing planned for today was for Lowe's to install a barn door.   I'm so glad I decided to have them do it.   You talk about a challenge.    The guy took it up and down no less than 7 times.   I could tell he was getting pretty frustrated.   He had to go to the hardware store twice to try and get different bolts.    Finally, 7th time was a charm.  

Before:

and the After:

I love how it turned out!

Taming the Wild Beast

Well there is no time like the present......it's time to take the bull by the horns....you know all those old wise sayings that my father used to say.   Well I did it.   I tackled the beast.  Well, it does seem that the key is a little finicky and doesn't always fit right.   Once I got that figured out I was good to go.

So once I got it started I mowed a little in the back yard and front just to get the feel of it.   Of course that's after it took me 10 minutes to back it out of the garage......hey, I was being cautious.

It really isn't hard once you get the hang of it.    There was only one tragedy.....I couldn't help it, it just right out in front of me.

Poor broom.....I knew him well.

Seems Stan threw it out of the truck yesterday when were working on the back fence.  I didn't realize it until it was too late :)  

So all I can say is come on grass growing season, I'm ready to tackle you now.  

Relaxing after a Hard Days Work

Weather was so beautiful I worked outside all day.   I'll post pictures tomorrow of my project.

Tonight it's time to relax.

Weekend Project

Now that I only have Riley at home, there is really no reason for this huge dog fence.   It was meant to be temporary and that was 15 years ago.   It's an eyesore and really needed to come down.   So down it did.   Stan wanted the fencing to use in the back of his property so he came by and helped me take it down.    It looks so much better down.   I've put up a small temporary fence for Riley but hope to figure out a more permanent solution soon.

Before:

AFTER!

Back in the Saddle Again

I haven't done embroidery for almost a year.   It felt so good to be able to work on it again.  Of course, I would like a little bit more notice when I need 20 bags done in a short amount of time, but oh well.    They are done and delivered.

Future Bobcat Quilt

This was a Bev-ren creation.    Made by both my friend Bev and Me!

I love how it turned out, and what future bobcat doesn't need a quilt like this.

Seriously

This is what I woke up to this morning.   One thing about Kansas, if you don't like the weather, just wait a day.   Last weekend it was almost 80 degrees.

Don't worry,  I'm not complaining.  Michael is supposed to get a foot of snow this week.

Go Greenbacks

Pratt Greenbacks were playing in the sub-state tournament in Emporia on Friday night.   Jackie called and said they were planning on going and it would be perfect to meet up there.   Don't have to ask me twice.

We had so much fun, and what made it even better is that Pratt won.

IKEA Hacks

I've been busy trying to reorganize my sewing/craft room.   That's a bigger challenge than it sounds.   Once it's all done I'll post pics of the finished room.  For now I want to share my 2 IKEA hacks.   

I'm pretty pleased how it turned out. I know not every has bolts in their sewing room, but like all of you know I also sell on etsy. I purchased an IKEA wardrobe frame, actually it was in the clearance section. 

Next I purchased shoe racks that fit in a wardrobe that's not as deep.  When I was talking with the IKEA salesperson he kept arguing that I'm buying the wrong shoe racks.   "I know, it's not for shoes, it's for fabric."  He just looked at me like I was nuts.    Well, maybe I am.   I did have to add 2x4 boards to give the metal shoe shelves better support. Bolts of fabric are just too heavy.

First I painted some 2"x4" boards cut the same width as the shoe racks. 

I had originally cut and painted enough of them to support the front and back of the shelf.   It didn't seem like the front was really needed once I put the supports in the back.  Only time will tell if I need to add the front supports.    If I do I'll probably use 2"x2".

Here's a close up photo of the shelf with the wood support in the back. 

.....and the moment you have all been waiting for.......the finished product.  

 I couldn't be happier how it turned out. Now I'm going to have to stalk the clearance and hopefully find another one.

My second IKEA hack was my cutting table.   I purchased 2 Kallax shelves.    I also purchased 2 furniture dollies from Harbor Freight so that I could sit the shelves on the dollies and easily move my table around.   NE Furniture Mart has a great clearance section and I found a table top only for get this.....$49.   Steal of a deal.   

My cutting table is perfect.

My TV Cabinet

I've been trying to think of a way to hide my TV.  I hate when the TV is the main focus point in a room and I hate having the TV on when company is over.   Well I started browsing the web and found that Pottery Barn sold a TV cabinet that was 2 mirrors and behind it was your TV.  When closed you didn't even know the TV was there.  Problem is, that cabinet was $600.   Yikes.

I thought about mirrors but they are so heavy.  I started doing a search on line and found the perfect thing.  At Wayfair I found 3 canvas prints that go together as a set.   Now the challenge was how to make a cabinet.    Well, I stared at the pictures for about a month until I finally got up the nerve to tackle this project.  I took this back and forth off the wall no less than 6 times....oh and once even fell off the ladder.    But needless to say it's finished, it's perfect and it didn't cost $600, in fact I like it even better than the one I saw at Pottery Barn.

I originally hadn't planned on putting a top to the box but had to add it.   The pictures wouldn't close correctly and I needed to add that part so I could put a magnet to hold it closed.

I'm getting closer!

It's perfect.   Now I have to take it back down so that I can stain all the wood.   I know, should have done before I mounted it but I wanted to make sure it was right.  

Cords all hidden and wood stained.   I love it!

Ole Blue Eyes

My sweet little blue eyed Samuel.  He was pretty happy until I started snapping pics.