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,

Stockholm

Hello Everyone!

Guess who is finally off the needles?

That would be The Stockholm Scarf! Remember this project? I gave an update on this project a while ago. I said it was gonna be done. SOON. Then I ran out of yarn. Every knitters nightmare. I miscalculated. You know what is really sad is that I only needed a little bit of yarn to finish the inch to and inch in a half that I had left to do on the project. Isn't that how it always goes? I am thinking I will make some fingerless gloves to match the scarf since I have so much of the yarn left over.

Here the Stockholm is getting a bath...and then a nice stretch out on the couch!

Here I am modeling the Stockholm.

A model I am not.

I just love how this guy turned out! He is so squishy and soft. I love that I can put it up around my head and make a hood with it and still have lots left over to keep my neck nice and warm.  This is going to be great to wear come fall and winter.  Yet another reason to look forward to fall coming(heehee).  You can find this project on Ravelry or hop over to Knitted Bliss to find the pattern. Julie is the mastermind behind this piece and she has done lovely work. Her blog is very nice as well.

Today starts the 4th event of the Bloggy Olympics, Crafts. Thus I found it appropriate to share this post with you. After all knitting is my particular craft. Head over to Hating Martha to read more about this weeks event and find out who the hosts are going to be. Have a wonderful Saturday.

Till Next Time,

A whole lot of painting goin' on

Hello Everyone!

How has your week been?  I have enjoyed having several days off in a row from work. I have taken advantage of the time to get things done. I was so happy when Paint week happen to coincide with my little down time. Sure made it easier for me to participate!

I love to paint! I love to paint so much that Dear Husband loves to accuse me of wanting to paint everything. I protest! That is not entirely true. I just believe in the power of paint! You can see what paint did for my yarn basket and a few other things here. I can also thank my Grandpa for those painting genes I have. He loves to paint too!  Needless to say you can imagine my excitement when Painting made it as an event on the Bloggy Olympics.  Don't you just love how Gwen's mirrors from The Bold Abode came out?  I do! You really need to check them out if you have not. I am a huge fan of blue so I just swooned when I saw the final result of Gwen's project for this event!

There has been a whole lot of painting goin' on around here. I had originally intended to give this to you in small doses. You know give you something to read about everyday till today with the big reveal. Alas that is not how my life went down, so you get it all in one big swallow!

Tuesday afternoon started out with taking this guy out to the front yard...

This is my night stand and it was high time it received a makeover. There were nail polish stains and water rings all over this guy. After a light sanding and dusting I began the make over.

See all that wear and nail polish?

Soon followed some other pieces from the bedroom...

These other wood pieces were going to receive an update using Kylon's Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint.

Fast forward to today where the painting frenzy continued. I couldn't help my self. What started out at updating and making over my night stand turned into my opening this guy that I have had sitting in my closet since December.

Can you see where this is all headed? Eight hours later, and after much sweat and blood(yes I managed to nick myself in this process. I will spare you the horror and not show you that picture), I have my completed Master Bedroom!

Sorry about the photos being taken at night with the light but it  was the only what to get this done on time.

I just love how it looks!!! Don't you? Its so fresh and crisp. But calm and relaxing too!  I have a very light lilac color on three of the four walls and on the ceiling. Then I mixed a grey that I had with a slightly darker purple than the Lilac to achieve the look on the wall above where our dresser sits.  Remember that wooden heart shaped shelf from above? Now it looks like this...

I love how the purple on the walls matches this picture so perfectly.

The corner shelves came out great and and they tie in with the bed and the art work so well( that was now accident. I admit I planned for that to happen). I bought a new curtain rod for the curtains to tie everything in.  And now for my pop of color! The thing that makes me smile when I walk into the room...here is what started the whole thing.

The nightstand, in all its radiant glory. Its turned out great! Its the perfect touch to compliment the curtains on the closet. You may remember my adding them not to long ago, you can read about that here, and get a sense of what the room looked like before.

I love that my candle holder is so much more noticeable on the green table now!  So there you have it.  That is my painting adventure for this event. I am so happy to have the bedroom done and finally decorated just the way I want it. I am so ready for the next event which is coming up on Saturday. And you know its right up my alley since the event is Crafts. Hmmm...what Crazy, Craftiness will I be up to? You will just have to stop by and see!

Till Next Time,