90's Patriot

In the 90's, I was a young Mom, living in Montana with a passion for crafts to occupy my mind and give me a creative outlet.

It was all about the wood crafting back then. I made boxes full of goodies through the years.  Sometimes I sold them at craft fairs, other times I gave them as gifts or displayed them in my home.

I've kept some of the Patriotic holiday decor that I've made over the years and I finally decided that it didn't matter anymore if it was dated. I made them. Whenever you make something, you put a little of yourself into whatever you are creating.

The God Bless America flag banner was a favorite of mine. I used my own saw to cut him out.  I felt especially proud as I hand carved his beard and eyes.  I used some real painting techniques and spent quite a bit of time on it.  As I was making it, and enjoying that journey, it gave me real joy and appreciation for the freedoms I am privileged to own.

The "fire crackers" were made from left over fence posts from our yard and the smaller ones were made from wood dowels used in closets.  Some of them were painted by my girls. Stenciling was big in the 90's and so was twine, sanding or distressing and paint splattering.  In the last decade or so, some of these techniques went out of style and are coming back again in a new way.

I decided to bring it all out.   These things are attached to so many wonderful memories and fill me with contentment and feeling of creativity.  I miss those days and yet I'm grateful for the season I'm in.  I cannot go back but I can recapture those feelings by displaying these old pieces of painted wood.

Whether I am stuck in the 90's with my holiday decor or not, I don't know...but I am feeling very blessed for the greatness of our country, and I want it to show.

Summer is for the birds

Part 3 of Bridger's Summer Vacay includes a little bird duty....and doodie.

She really wanted a bird feeder and she faithfully refills it almost every day. Yes, that's right....the greedy birds eat almost an entire feeder full of seed everyday.

What started out as a great way to observe different breeds of birds has ended up being an education in bird fighting and bird poo. But hey, it's an education right? Bridger's summer break is for the birds.

it's the easiest thing to do

All that is needed to make the easiest cookies in the world are two ingredients...

Shredded coconut
Sweetened condensed milk

Mix one bag of shredded coconut with one can of sweetened condensed milk in a bowl.

Drop by spoonfuls (I use a scoop) onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from cookie sheet to cool.

Adding a drop of food coloring makes them beautiful too.  For New Beginnings, we had these dyed in all the value colors....so pretty.  They would be awesome in red, white and blue for the 4th...hey that just gave me an idea.....

Better Late then Never

It was due on Friday...and as of 22 minutes ago....it's Saturday!  But my post date still says Friday...so let's keep this secret between us....shall we?
Here's my project for the "Rush" of the Bloggerette Sorority on Some Days Are Diamonds.
I didn't think I'd make the challenge.  I put it together literally as I was running out the door to Omaha this afternoon and I got home at midnight!!

I tore a hymn from an old hymnal entitled, "As Sisters In Zion".  I roughed it up a bit and inked it.
Then I mod podged it on to a wood plaque that I had painted black and sanded the edges of.
I mod podged the photo down over the top of the music.
After it dried I applied a set of "sisters" rub ons from One Heart One Mind...a company I used to work for.
I tied on some brown ribbon and pinned an antique brooch I bought at a yard sale on thursday morning.

Easy peasy....hadn't done something like this in months!

And the picture of me with it?  Well, be forgiving....it was taken moments ago, right here on my laptop.
Thanks for the challenge Sisters....this one will be for my sister....Melanie.

Part Deux

Bridger's summer break continues....

She got herself a book.....

And she's making every bracelet in it.....

She doesn't want to admit it....but I think she may be crafty.

Happy Summer break!

A Craft Sorority

For those who love a challenge and want to be in a craft sorority...go here....

I'm Alive

I don't know what's happening to me.

It began yesterday while I was at the pool with some cute, giggly girls.

I sat in my chair watching them enjoy the moment in cool, clear water.  The sky was crystal blue...the breeze keeping me from melting in the midwest heat.

I just can't describe the feeling of contentment and peace that swept over me. I was so overcome that my eyes even got a little misty.  Maybe I should get a dose of vitamin D more often!

I'm still feeling it this morning...even after a terrible night's sleep.  I just feel so darn good.

I was reading a scripture about how we are to forgive because that is what Christ did and we are expected to forgive everyone. And I was thinking how blessed we are to wake up everyday and have an opportunity to start fresh...we get another day. Why me...why am I so blessed? Maybe I was thinking about the little girl I read about with stage 4 cancer who was taking her last breaths yesterday. As I was sitting by the pool, I could imagine her parents and family around her bed as she struggled to breathe and I thought about her short life.

I'm not usually one to feel this way.  I wasn't blessed with the most sunny disposition and the ability to see past the demons. I tend to have a dark cloud over me and feel an invisible ceiling just above my head almost always.  I am one of those who marvel at those who always see the glass half full, who seem to love everything about life. I read other's blogs and wonder if it's possible that they are all that happy all the time.  I know that I honestly don't always feel that way and I almost doubt the sincerity of some because I can't fathom that kind of bliss. Once in awhile I will have a break in the clouds and the storms that rage in my mind will dissipate.  These windows in time are generally quite rare and short.  I don't know why these glimpses are given to me. So, while I am currently on this deliverance from darkness and heavy weights, I have to acknowledge a few things.

I am one lucky girl.

I love my home.

I love living here in this time and in this place.

I adore my children and I'm so grateful to be a Mom.

I love my life and I love who I am.  I know I have it good.

I'm so grateful for the gifts I've been given.

I am so blessed to be able to have a fresh start everyday.

I love the scriptures.

I don't know where I will be in a year, but I have a knowledge of the Plan and where I ultimately want to be and so that is all the future I need to know.

I feel peace about the path my family is traveling on.  We are a rag tag bunch, making our way on this thorny journey but we are so blessed to have help along the way.

I am married to the perfect person for me.

I feel loved.

I'm so grateful for my physical body. When it works...it works well. It is a functioning marvel and miracle.

I'm alive.

These lyrics keep coming to mind...
"When dark clouds of trouble hang 'ore us...
and threaten our peace to destroy.
There is hope smiling brightly before us...
and we know that deliverance is nigh."

Maybe someday my girls will read this and see that I did have good days too.  I'm going to bookmark this page.  Knowing me...I'm going to need it someday, who knows that day may be tomorrow.  These feelings don't come around every day you know.

But today...it just feels so good to be alive.

Bridgers Summer Vacay Part 1

I deserve an award for the best Mom.

What?  All she wanted to do was crack a coconut. I'm just trying to give her life experiences.
I'm all about wholesome, industrious, and educational recreation.


Maybe Part 2 will be more safe.

Incognito

Lola...nicely camouflaged in the couch.  Staying cool, laying low....leave me alone.

Blow Pop Jam

Actually, it's Rhubarb Pineapple Jam.  But it tastes like a Blow Pop sucker...seriously candy jam.

3 Cups Rhubarb (chopped 3/4" thick)

1 Cup Crushed Pineapple

3 Cups Sugar

Wash and cut rhubarb.

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.

Cook on medium-high heat, stirring constantly until boiling.  

Boil rapidly for 25-30 minutes until thickened, stirring frequently.

Pour immediately into hot jelly jars.

Top with hot lids, and seal.

Makes 3 - 3 1/2 cups

I found that adding a couple of drops of red food coloring helped bring a bit of the vibrant red back after boiling the rhubarb for so long.

I didn't water bath the jars as they are very small.  They sealed up within 5 minutes of being poured.

Rhubarb says summer to me.  What better way to celebrate then making jam that tastes like candy.  It's so yummy on homemade ice cream.

 

If / Then

If black clouds, like these, packing hurricane force winds hit your house....

Then, this will be the result.

At least it wasn't a flooded basement this time.

Sunday Edition

I'm teaching tomorrow in Young Womens.

The longer I am in this calling the more I realize how applicable this year's theme is to the girls' lives.

Tomorrow they will be learning to Counsel With the Lord.

One of my most fervent prayers has been that my young adult child will heed this lesson as she makes the most critical decisions of her life and eternity.  

I know it's almost unfathomable to the indestructible youth how fast time goes by.  I know it's impossible to comprehend the consequences of choices made that impact your entire future.  All I'm asking is that you consider your decisions for one moment and use your eternal vision to look at the big picture.  

Counsel with our Father.  

And then listen.  

"He that seeketh me early shall find me, and shall not be forsaken."

And feel the peace that comes from choosing the right.

There will be no fear.

There will be no doubts or dismay.  

He is with you, counsel with Him.

Dependency

I have lived here for over 10 years and I still feel like I live on another planet.

The first few days of "real" heat always put me in a state of panic.  And every time, I swear, this is the last summer I'm livin' here.  Give me mountain air pleasssssse!

One of the leaders from our Girls Camp last week tested positive for Lyme disease from a tick bite she got during camp. Great.

One of the things I've become most dependent on since living here is air conditioning.  Never in my life did I ever need it like I do here.  I only owned one other place outside of Missouri that had this luxury and when we had it, back then, most others were making due with a swamp cooler.

Our air conditioning went out today.
So I was practicing a little of this.....

Savage Chicken style...

It made me think back to the days when everything was "boiling" or "freezing". Am I the only one who labeled everything this way?  To make a point that I was hot, I would say..."Mom, I'm BOILING" and when I was cold, like the times I was in our suburban with no heat and no insulation, I'd say..."Mom, I'm freezing".  Now sometimes I would actually be pretty cold but you get a better reaction when you're freezing then just cold.

I can't even imagine living without heat or air conditioning.  I'm so dependent on these luxuries....

There there luxury,
don't you cry,
you'll be a necessity
by and by.

I do remember living in a home with no heat other then burning coal or firewood in a fireplace.  It did get pretty cold there.  I also remember going to college in the suburban with no air conditioning, all the windows down, driving from Oregon to Idaho with my legs sticking to the vinyl seats.  It's so wonderful to show up at your new college life all sweaty and sticky from your trip.  Like, check me out.
There was also the time we drove back to college after Christmas in that same suburban with frozen, iced over windows and all of us in sleeping bags to stay warm.  (I think I may have hated that suburban just a little :)

I think it really does help to think back to childhood to help appreciate the luxuries we have now.  Although, I don't think it made me feel less dependent on my air conditioning enough to not pay the after hour fees to have it fixed today rather then next week.

I know we have it good...especially my kids.  And I know I had it good compared to my parents and of course, their parents.  But dang.

I admit it....I'm dependent.  Bring on the air conditioning!!

BA explains

I may just be the biggest fan of Savage Chickens ever.  I don't think a week goes by that I don't check in.

If you've seen A-Team then maybe you'll appreciate BA's explanation of his "I pity the fool" to the Savage Chickens.

Liked A-Team....LOVED Karate Kid....although technically it should be Kung Fu kid...but no matter.  Toy Story 3, here we come!

A Reminder

....on this stormy night.

His Promises are sure.....

Thank goodness for the reminder.