A Happy Thought for the Holidays...

It has been an awful long time since I've written and this is what I have to say...

Read this...Frankenjuice!

Dear Santa, please give me a juicer and  several pounds of fresh oranges for Christmas.

Thank you.

J

Where is my mind...

This week I think I will just post a few Things I Love...


Life~
The way it all works has to be a little magic...

New life if a renewal of faith that everything will be alright:  That there is a greater purpose and it is something special.  Happy Birthday to the Coble family and their newest member.

Freedom~

Believe in yourself and anything is possible.  Here it is in action...

An interesting point made here too...

Thanksgiving~

We have so much to be grateful in this life.  This time of year it becomes a focal point of our daily lives.  As the year comes to a close and I reflect on my past, it feels good to appreciate the successes and failures. What I know is as I have aged I have grown more confident to express my views and have drawn more definitive lines for my personal paradigm and principles.  I can say I love my life and am grateful for the lessons I have learned from peoples I consider friends and family  (I write this as B sings a medley of her favorite songs in the shower...she's happy too).

Happy Thanksgiving to all those who read this.  I hope you get time to reflect and appreciate your life sometime this week.  

Lovely.

Dance

This is beautiful...thank you Rockstar Diaries


This is lovely too...Pumpkins

Just had to share...

enjoy
J

Happy Halloween!

Hello ghosts and ghouls.

It is my favorite time of year.  Not only is it the kick off of the marathon holiday season, it is also the time to test your craftiness.

This year I have some plans.  I love to plan.  

Halloween.is on a Monday this year.  A school night.  However this holiday has become a weekend long event.
We Trunk-or-Treated on Saturday, have a party at school on Monday and Trick-or-Treating through our neighborhood.  We are loading up on crappy candy that none of us have any power against.  I love tootsie rolls.  I love Almond Mounds.  I never eat them except for this time of year, and it is probably because we eat way too much of it over the three day celebration of All Hallow's Eve that we can not stomach it but once a year.  My teeth and tummy ache as I type this.

This year I decided to go a bit more on the traditional side.  I am going as a witch.  I made a hat...well I bought a hat and decorated it. I would have made this one from Living with Punks with more time.  I greened up my face and wore lots of black. Witches were lots of black you know.
B decided she would be the Princess from the Princess and the Pea story.  Hummmm? How would we pull this one off?  I am not carrying around a mattress for her to sit on top of.  So we have planned a wagon bed for her to be pulled in with blankets for mattresses.  I suspect she will walk most of the route and only point to me pulling a wagon full of blankets at the end of the driveways.  What was that earlier comment about not carrying a mattress?
It should be fun.. Here are some preliminary pictures from the Trunk-or-Treat event.  J went too.  He went costume crazy and dressed as a chef.

 Scary make-up...?

 Happiest kid ever...

She will be embarrassed by us some day soon...

Hopefully  this stays together through the weekend...

Other great news is I have finished three big projects (well mostly).
The bookcase is complete and in use.  It took 2 months but I did it.  I used a great novel from V.C. Andrews and one of my favorite books as a youth (11 years old) and movie as well...

Now to the bookcase...

 Grandmother is sooooo mean.

The second project I finished was our nightstands.  These are not quite done only because my knobs are en route and  due to arrive this week some time.  I thought I would  include it in this weeks post because it will take 2.5 seconds to put the knobs on...might as well be done now.

This is what they looked like before...

Here is the nearly finished product sans the knobs...

I modge podged the insides of the drawers with the prettiest papers.  I stole this idea from my good friend F, and I have to say I love how they came out.

The third project I finished was refinishing an old wooden frame.
It was covered in layers of paint and I think mold.  I used turpentine to cut through several layers that eventually peeled off to leave a white and goldish color. I rewired it for a new picture and voila!   I think it will get a new home over my bed to balance out the room.

I feel like I have gotten so much done this week!


Things I Love


Halloween Scary movies~
Some of my all time favorites are the Halloween series with white faced Jason and blue overalls and a very young Jamie Lee Curtis (who has the best scream ever). Then I would have to throw in a little Nightmare On Elm Street, but only the first two. Nancy gets a white streak! For some serious scarring The Exorcist is at the top of my list.  I would not be able to close my eyes for a good two days after this one.  The Shinning also falls into this really scary category too.  I get creeped out by identical twin girls because of this movie. I could go on but I am afraid now and need to change the subject...

And I have to include...

Well Carved Pumpkins~

I love how great these look.  

A Good Theme Song~

Nothing sets a mood like music. Movies have taught me this much.  I try to apply what I have learned to everyday life.  Most days I keep it light and happy.  Some days mellow and funky. Yet other days I like it dark and a bit sinister and kinda loud.  Here's where I have been this week...

Crime and the City Solution, "The Adversary"

and ...

Have a safe and happy Halloween...

Thank you for reading

J

It has been a long time...

Well hello there.  I know it has been an awful long time.  No excuses other than distraction.  We have been distracted.
What has been going on in our happy lives these last few weeks has been lots of fun.  To start, the seasons have changed and it is cool enough for a jacket.  The air is crisp, and the leaves have changed to crimsons. The days are no longer broiling and sweaty but perfectly tepid and mild.  Our beach time has eased down too. Hard to say that out loud as I never thought it would happen.  It is now apparent to me why snow birds flock here.

On the craft front we have made over shoes, decoupaged a book shelf (nearly finished) and knitted.
On the cooking front we have made breads, pies, pizzas, sweat breads, cookies, and cakes.

Lets start will the shoes.  I am in love with this blog a pair & a spare. The gal has really great ideas for DIY enthusiast like myself.   She had redone an pair of heals that inspired me to rethink a pair of shoes that B had demolished in a couple of wears.  So per Geneva's instructions I set about to salvage B's beloved pink flats.

Mix glue (elmers) and glitter...

Sand the shoes first with a fine paper then paint with glue/glitter mixture. 

Cover with more glitter and place on parchment paper/news papers to dry.  

I let them dry for a day.  Then spray with an acrylic spray to seal it.  Once that is dry they are ready to wear. 

...and she did.

We had family come and visit recently too.  Of course we took them to the historical sites and around or lovely home.  I now have my tour guides licence and know all the cool spots to go.  It is great to just spend time together. We moved 2 years ago and struggled with the decision fearing the impact on B.  B has known her Grandparents since the day she was born.  She adores them.  I love that she has such a close relationship with them. So does her dad...   

J learned to cook from his mom...go figure.

 A week just in not long enough.


Since we had guests we cooked a lot together.  Grandma is a catalog of recipes and has a natural gift for cooking.  Popa likes to eat.  It's perfect...

 Apple walnut cake

 Grandma's M recipe for Pound cake

Sourdough bread

 Fresh pizza

 Falalfal Salad

 Cinnamon Rolls. with candied pecans

This week we are living off the leftovers...





Things I Love~


Halloween

When else can you dress up and act foolish and not be institutionalized or arrested for it.  It is a perfect blend of pagen and christian holidays. Act like a heathen to keep the evil spirits away.   At one time maybe.  These days I still love to dress up but now we do activities with other neighbors and it has to be kid friendly. This year we took the kids on a parade through the local veterans home and gave out cookies to the residents.  The kids get to do community service and the grandma's and grandpa's get their kid fix.
B who has and arsenal of dress up clothes put this little gem together...

She informed everyone that this is not her real Halloween costume.  It is just for today.  I know she would wear this any day of the week. Reminds me of...

Her costume will be much more glamorous...of course.


Dishwasher
Now I know it is silly to love inanimate objects. I know it is materialistic and not good for the water shed and all that.  I tend to value these ideologies but not when it comes to doing dishes.  I hate washing by hand. It was a chore when I was a kid and I did not enjoy it then.  Laundry I do not mind but dishes...I have been known to eat off tea saucers and measuring spoons rather than wash dishes.  Our dishwasher works but our water softner did not.  We decided to save money to buy a new one and we'd wash by hand till then(Well "we" is an interesting term.  I have come to know it to be code for me.). So for 2 months "we" have been washing dishes by hand.  Till last week when the replacement arrived.  The dishes get done and not by "we". No more spots except if you count the tears I shed for the love of modern amenities. Thank you god of dishwashers.


Chocolate
Is it not funny that every holiday has an element of chocolate to it.  Easter we get chocolate eggs and bunnies. Christmas is chocolate santas, and hot chocolate. Halloween we get and give candy.  Saint Patrick's day chocolate beer?  Valentine's Day..duh!  Forth of July has brownies and picnic goodies.  It is the universal sign for friendship, comfort and love (mover over pineapple). It comes in milk, dark, bitter sweet and white(which has no chocolate but milk fat). Interestingly it has health benefits(antioxidants and magnesium) and can cause cavities. We love it so much we even named a town after a beloved brand. You can put it on bugs and people will eat them.  Honestly is there anything more perfect then chocolate?

 Thank you Mr. Waits...

Thank you for reading,

J

Caca-caw!

This is how my week felt...

Ever have a week where you feel like you are out of your body and watching a comedy of errors, but it is really you and your life?  Yeah, that was my week.  It was not any one thing or even that it was bad.  In fact it was not and a lot of good things happened.  I just felt like everyone was speaking a foreign language this week. 

It is probably me...

I've getting close to finishing my decoupage book shelf.  It has taken a bit longer than I thought it would.  There are lots of little areas that take time to cut and set.  I'm shooting for finishing this week some time.  

I'm getting sick of seeing the books on the floor.  Messes are always good motivation for me.  

I'm nearly ready to take my city licence test for tour guides.  I did go out and go through one last Friday and it was really fun.  There was lighting of a Cannon! I also learned I can take a cannon firing course.  Look out neighbors---this ain't a potato gun!

B is doing well.  She is reading through the Junie B books as fast as she can.  I want to start tallying her pages so she can see how many she has read, and that gives her a goal.  I was thinking of making a wall chart with the number of pages she reads displayed.  When she hits 1000 she gets a prize.  I also thought of pennies or jelly beans in a jar for each page again when she reaches 1k  a prize.  Jelly beans are cheap but they are a candy. It is hard enough to get her to brush her teeth now. I think jelly beans will guarantee a cavity.  Pennies may be a better option.  Any thoughts?

We have also started taking German lessons with a German friend.  We've got our colors down and our fruits, and some greetings!  B was practicing last night as she was falling a sleep.  Eines, Zwei,drei...

This week I'll close with silly video. 

If a goat can climb a tree...

Thank you for reading...

J

Treasures

I can't believe how fast last week flew by.  I hate to say it but...Where does the time go?
Well, in this place it goes everywhere.
I have been studying for a guide licence in our new home town.  This place is steeped with some amazing history and I think it would be great to share it.  It's simple.  Study the history, know it, create a script and pass the city test.  O.K. I'm in the studying phase now. I think I might even get to dress up!

B is the same silly sweet and happy gal as always.  This weekend she read a chapter book called "Junie B Jones  and the Mushy Gushy Valentime" by Barbara Park.  I've read one or two of these to her before.  They are not my favorite.  The stories are written as if told by a 6 year old and that means poor grammar and misspellings. Not a great enforcer for correct spelling and speaking.  I had decided to discourage her from reading them(gently of course.. "Ooooh look B a Princess book!").  However in talking with my sister in law this past weekend about her own sons and their young reading days, I have decided that perhaps Miss Junie B has something to offer that I had not expected.  B is reading.  She is sitting, engaged, excited and proud of her accomplishment.  Each page is one step closer to finishing the book.  She nearly jumped out of her skin when she finished the book.  She read the last two or three chapters to herself.  I could see her pointing and reading each word, pausing where she had to sound it out, her face thick with concentration. She spent 20 minutes retelling me the highlights.  I love how happy she is at her new skill. I treasure this time.


Today is national Talk Like  a Pirate Day.  If you can bring yourself to do it, give someone a good aarrrrrrh and let them know you care.  They'll probably thank you for it (maybe?).

Thank ye for readn' 

J

Cook'n & Craft'n

O.K. so I've been a bit late on posting lately.  I start out with the best intentions, really I do.  But I've been distracted by tasks and not really focused on postings.  Lame I know.  But we have been doing some cool stuff.
Food! B and I have been cooking fools these last two weeks.

Potato and Rutabaga balls rolled in bread crumbs served with green apples...

Lasagna made with fresh pasta and fresh tomato sauce and local mozzarella cheese

Cooked 

Ready for eat'n

Pumpkin Pie...

Fresh whipped cream on top!

Oatmeal Raisin(et) cookies

She worked hard for her treat.

Blueberry filling

And the pie...make you think of Stand By Me?

Really yummy cake

Curried Couscous, mixed mushrooms and German style green beans.

We've eaten well.

We are slowly getting our new house together.  And by slowly I mean we are really putting some thought into each room and choosing pieces and colors that represent us.  The homes style magazine and DIY shows make it all seem so easy.  Hmph... It is not.  Last week we started with selections of paint.  B's room will have a lovely "Ribbon Pink" accent wall and white and purple pin stripped.  But to start we built her a bed.  It's a twin over full bunk. They come apart to make two individual beds so when she out grows the bunk bed she'll have the full and that should get her to college.  We're thinkers over here! We decided to put it together ourself (really J did it) to save some money.  It took 4 hours.  Cha-Ching!

 

Not sure if this is a good thing or not.  

As for color of the family room and kitchen here are the choices:  

Darker color is called Hazy Sky and the lighter one is Nantucket Fog

Thoughts?

I also painted B's toy box white and it is acting as a toy chest and occasional table.  

Anyone wanna help paint?  It's really fuuunnnn? 

Non house or food news is that B is loving her new home. She is settling in and has made a little group of friends.  All sweet.  She had a call from a boy on her bus this week that made her dad and I giggle. He says he likes her cuz she is nice to him on the bus.  He even stopped by for a bike ride.  Now this seems sweet and innocent and it is, but when you're the parents of a daughter and a boy comes calling it's notable right?  Is this is what to come in 6 yrs from now?  Should we be building her a tower and not a bunk bed?  We are not ready.  Really it tells me is she is a nice girl and is kind to people and it makes me proud of her.  Now if only I could get that same behavior at home with us.  

Things I love:

~Sons of Anarchy 

This show is great.  I love Katey Segal.  She is the best part of the show.  No more Peg Bundy.  It's Gemma Teller Morrow all the way.  And Ron Perlman  is great too (Hell Boy, Beauty and the Beast series from the 90's, Tangled...).  It's not quite vigilante justice because they do break the law, it's more of a lesser of evils kinda justice.  You're never sad at the bad guys getting theirs at the hands of the MC.  If you have not seen it  you should.  But start at the beginning.  This show builds their relationships well, so start there first.

~Aveda

B and I were looking for Whole Foods Market and stumbled across the Aveda training center next door to it.  I've been on and off with Aveda for the last decade which started in San Francisco. They have a lot of nice therapy treatments and natural products.  I'm a fan of their mascara which uses mosses(and limited petroleum products for it's makeup) which doesn't make my eyes itch.  Recently I've been back on with them( last 2 years at least) so finding a training center is really good news.  Eager stylist at a cheap price! I spent $60 bucks for a cut, partial highlights, product and tip!  Ummm... awesome!  I usually pay that for just a cussin' cut.  So today I'm a little blonder, slightly banged and less slit ends. I love a new hair do.  It puts a spring in my step.  

Happy week to all!

Thank you for reading...