Hanging Lake

Hello Everyone,

How is your day going? Mine not too bad. I am currently procrastinating in cleaning my house.  Of course I am justifiying not cleaning at the moment with taking care of much needed things on the computer( like writing to you all). Also I have a strict rule, "No work to be done till the last drop of coffee is gone". Right now I still have a half of a cup so I got time! Course now I look at the clock and feel a twinge of guilt because I think of how the day is slipping past me and what will I have to show for it, alos how nice will it be to have all of my have tos out of the way before Dear Husband gets home. *Sigh* Ok I will get to work on things as soon as I am done here I promise!

So I took a break and I actually did get up and give the dog a bath and cleaned the house, plus got some laundry going. Motivation must have finally hit me. Or it could have been that I hit an impasse with finishing this blog. My tablet and I are still feeling each other out and I have yet to figure out how to get pictures where I want them in a post on my tablet. Can anyone tell me how to do this??? Anyway with this difficulty it was going to require going to the library to use their computers and I could not allow myself to leave the house with out cleaning it. Anyway back to the story...

First I want to share with you about our trip up to Hanging Lake. Rememeber I mentioned here that Dear Husband and I needed to get away from the craziness we have been experiencing lately. So we escaped to a town not to far away from where we live. We went to Hanging Lake for a hike. And it was beautiful. Once you got there. Because let me tell you think you are going to die as you are climbing up there.

Just before starting the hike up. I don't think its a very good picture but  I am keeping things real.

Thoughts are running thru my head like, How did I let myself get talked into this? And why doesn't some one just shoot me and get it over with already? When you first start out you are so joyful and looking forward to this little trek you are going to do.  I wasn't even half way to the halfway point when my legs were screaming and I was sweating in a very unlady like manor and felt like I had a permanet scowl attached to my face. Maybe I really should get that Gym membership after all. I didn't think I was that badly out of shape but apparently I am! I kept thinking how if we ever experience one of those Day After Tomorrow or Deep Impact scenarios, I am likely to be the first to die because my survival will depend on getting up the mountain the quickest and I shall be trampled!

This is the stream you get to hike next to on  your climb up to the lakes. It really was peaceful, even with the other hikers around. Frankly I found myself doing a lot of Think Walking. I didn't speak much, that could have been due to a lack of oxygen but I like to think it was because I was being reflective. I wanted to be absorbed in the moment. I wanted nature to take me in and restore my soul if you will.

Here we are at the last leg of the trail up.

And then before I knew it I was there! And I was pooped!

sshhh! I am sleeping

But the view was worth it!

There that's a much better picture of Dear Husband and I. Mmm I should get it framed. The hike down was much easier and faster and very much looked forward to, by me anyway. Obviously I survived to tell the tale, unlike how I felt on my way up. Nature did her trick, I was relaxed and at peace. Anyone else go somewhere that put them at peace and was beautiful to see?

The End...Till Next Time

I am back!!!!

I am back Everyone!!

I am back and it feels great! I feel great!  I feel like I have been away for forever. This last month has just flown right by me! Did this happen to anyone else? Do you feel like July was just a blip and that was it?

I am back from a little holiday that Dear Husband and I took last week.  Boy did we need it. We didn't go far. Just to Glenwood Springs. They have natural hot springs there which are very theraputic! We also went hiking up to Hanging Lake( I will share more on that later).  While we were there I had a glorious afternoon catching up on some reading, email responding, and some good old fashioned letter writing(it seems sad that I had to get away on holiday to get to those things. Alas it is what it is). While I was away I thought about my baby blog here.

How I have neglected my blog this month and I feel terrible about that. I didn't want to become among the many that started a blog and then fizzled out. I understand life gets in the way and some balls that we juggle just have to be dropped in order to cope. I really know this one because well thats what happened to me. In my last post I mentioned some of the family drama we have beeen dealing with.  Namely my aging inlaws and their declining health. That has been the biggest thing because it has been their life added to our life. Its not more balls we are juggling, we are caring for their needs on top of our own. Its a lot to grasp. And we are keeping our heads above water but it hasn't been easy. It has taken a lot of sacrifice on our part, with more to come I know.  I want to commend all those who have taken this route before me. Everyone who cares for  an ill loved one is to be commended! Its  
a very loving thing to do and one that is no small task.

Getting back to what I was saying, I didn't want to fizzle out on this endevour of mine, although I did feel like I was running dry on ideas. Course I am sure having my mind on doctors visits and no time to work on crafts had something to do with it.  Even so I know that dry spells are to be expected.  While I was away I made a resolution with myself that I was going to get back on track with blogging. To share my thoughts and concerns no matter how trivial. This is to be a place for me to decompress and de-stress. And to be part of a unique community.

Since everything else in my life has had to go onto a legit schedule and under go planning, I am adding the Blog Baby to that mix. Its the only way its going to get done! So a blog planner of sorts needs to be made up, where I can write down thoughts and ideas and keep everything in one central spot. Oh and it must be pretty! I have been looking at different ideas and reading different bloggers takes on how they keep a blogging planner. My goal is to have my planner in order by the end of this week.  I am so happy to be back and excited to get back into crazy craftiness!

Till Next Time,

I am worried...

Hello Everyone,

How are you doing? I hope all is well.

All has not been well for me. That is why I have been MIA of late. For that I am sorry.

 Lately this statement has been true.  We have been dealt a few lemons that have made us pucker.  Namely with family. Not to long ago we learned that my father in-laws cancer had spread to his bone.  He has been so tired and weak of late and its no wonder. Naturally it has us all worried. Worried for him and how life is going to change with this development.  Already we have had more responsibility thrust upon us.  This has caused my head to spin. There is so much running around to be done, I don't know if I am coming or going anymore.

My crafting has slumped because of all of this. And of course since I haven't been crafting much these last couple of weeks, having something to write about has been a little thin. Never mind that I have not had the time to sit down and write you out something proper. This has been very frustrating to me of course. Crafting of any sort is my outlet.  I don't need to tell you other crafters out there how important the stress relief of crafting is. Yet I have not been able to do that. Gee! No wonder I am twitchy here lately!

I know these are things that are a part of life and well I just have to ride the waves I am on. But I needed to share with you what was going on. About why I have been absent. Why I may be spacey and absent quiet a bit. Till I work out a new rhythm that is.

Gumballs

Hello everyone,

Don't you just love Pinterest? I sure do. It helps get me into the mood, to find my happy place. Some days I know I want to craft something but some times  I haven't got a clue as to what. Then, BANG! Pinterest has some awesome idea that I can not wait to try. There are so many blogs out there that center around making those pins a reality. I just love that!

Any who back on topic. Not to long ago I was on Pinterest(surprise surprise) when I came across a way to make an old style gumball machine from some inexpensive items at your local Walmart or hobby store. I love old time stuff. Naturally I was drawn to this project.

Here is what you will need:
Medium sized clay pot
Small clay disk
1 wooden knob
1 button or bottle cap
Medium sized glass bowl
Hot glue gun
Krazy Glue

Now it's time to assemble. First you may want to paint it. I painted mine a lovely Ivory. Mainly because I already had it at home.  I put it together, embellished with a ribbon,  and wa-la I have my very own old time gumball or candy machine all for under $5.

Isn't it cute? I love that it matches my room perfectly.  Here is one that my friend Jess did. I loved how hers turned out too!

You are getting a double dose today, because yesterday ran right by me and I never got to share a craft with you.  I know you thought I was all done. Well I have just one more quick project to share. This is another great one because it allows you to use all those magazines you have lying around!  Come on I know you have them hiding somewhere in your home. You know I know.
Using fun and colorful pages from all those magazines lying around we are going to make envelopes! Exciting huh? Wait till you see how it easy it is.

Check out this You Tube video that shows just how easy it is to make these! I love it now I don't have to run to the store to get envelopes. I can just make it at home. I love the D.I.Y life!  This wraps up craft week. We started out with Stockholm, then Bookmarks and Hair Pins. Now we have Gumballs.

Have a lovely Friday everyone. I have family coming in to visit me so I am checking out for a couple of days.

Till Next Time,

Bookmarks and Hairpins

Hello Everyone,

How is it going with you? Are you as hot as I am?  Let me tell you moving to the North Pole is sounding better and better all the time.

Its craft week during the Bloggy Olympics and Hating Martha has had some lovely crafts thus far. As have the hosts of this week's events, Here's  to Handy Andy , C.W. Frosting, and Freaking Craft. Earlier this week I shared with you my finished Stockholm project.   Tonight I wanted to share with you a fun and quick(you know for those of you who haven't picked up the knitting needles yet...because you will someday, I am sure of it.) project that uses items that most of us have in our home(So its very budget friendly. WIN WIN).  I first found these ideas on Pinterest. And let me tell you its gets addicting.  All you need to make these guys are buttons, ribbon, paper clips, bobby pins, scrap booking add on's and a hot glue gun.

 

Then just let your creativity run wild. They work up fast, aperfect project if you have kids that are cooped up inside.

Hair Pins

Bookmarks

That's it that is all there is too it! See how easy that was? They make great gifts too! For those times when you're in a pinch and you need to give a gift.

Have a wonderful night.  Till Next Time,