Did you know that a four toed dinosaur is a  plant eater and 3 toed is a meat eater?
I didn’t either, until she told me. Amazing what they learn on their own.

We have a blue eyed Blondie who loves pink & purple. All the girly stuff for her..except one thing. She loves lizards, dragons, worms, turtles and dinosaurs. It’s really quite funny.
So, I decided to start her a bag. Theme bag. Filling it with books, puzzles, games and such. All easy to grab and go. All in one place. The bags has some fun silly flowers on it, of course a Brachiosaurus was needed to complete it. That being a long neck with a bump on it’s head. One of her favorites.
See thinks it’s placed on the bag just perfect, eating the flowers. They have four toes by the way. Wonder if those were the ones that Fred Flintstone used at work?

Shout out to all you that are knee deep in snow.

A bit of cabin fever has set in. We were thinking of things to do and decided to make labels and tags for some of our baskets. You know the ones that are meant for one thing but end up with an array of items, turning into a “junk drawer” sort of basket.  The kids set to work, coloring and designing tags.  Getting organized and they don’t even know it. A sneaky mom.

Making these tags gave me an idea. Something most of you might have already found out, they are really cute! And a very ideal and useful project. You’d thought I discovered the wheel how excited I was about placing these around the house. So I got to work and made a few of my own.

Little labels for my flour and sugar jars. Don’t look to close, these are used quite often. All this lead to a lot of work. (not, really) and we were so famished that cookie making was needed.

Now baking cookies is great, but with it being so cold outside we needed warmth. Hot cocoa to go with it.

And what better way to eat hot fresh chocolate chip cookies with warm cocoa?  Eating them in an apron that was made all by one’s wee little self.  She did need a little help with the peddle. She sat on my lap moving the fabric while I pushed the sewing machine peddle for her. It will be a few more years before she can reach, till then we are partners on the machine.

What are you guys doing to pass the beautiful snow days away?

This last week I’ve been doing a little sprucing up the house. Moving around the living room, changing colors, Dining area received a bit of rearranging as well.  But those were not the only spots. The kitchen in the doll house has a new little gem. The pink table.  Are you in agreement with me, it’s an Adorable little piece of furniture!  The girls painted house has been done for a while but it seemed to fit in the theme of the post. So, I shall share it with you.  I must tell you painting that cat house, was so freeing. Yes, it’s suppose to be a cat house, but I’m thinking not for ours, as his big tummy is not going to fit to well.  We have already tried…he needs a room addition.

Back to freeing….You should try it, grab something, anything, an old cereal box, mailing box, a piece of wood, rocks. What ever you have handy. Grab some bottles of paint, brushes, the kids are a must and paint. No rules, no ideas, no planning. Just dip and color. It was quite fun, all of us painting and giggling at the same time. I was only allowed to paint a small part. But I couldn’t resist adding the little flowers as well, in my February longing for spring blues. Which by the way, I saw a couple robins already. Us northern people watch for those little red breasted friends like there is no tomorrow. They are the usher to warm weather. Early birds this year, so I’m hoping they know something we don’t. But I’m not putting my sweaters away just yet.

My little supporter chimed in this morning, reminding me to take pictures and post.  I love that little girl.  She might not fully understand it, but she has given me strength when it was needed. She keeps me on my toes.

Recycling and reusing once again..a can of black beans. They went from part of our Mexican supper dish to a pencil holder.  A little embroidered horse, of course.  Just when you think a faze will wane, it sparks even brighter.  I see horses sticking around for quite some time.  This was a mother and daughter joint project. I was thrilled to see her sit that long. Working the needle. A couple years ago, she would have given up after a few stitches. 

Making applesauce & cinnamon ornaments. Who needs candles with these hanging around.

Here’s the recipe.   A few tips~Discovered that if they are crumbling when moist, more than likely they will crumble before fully dry too. Causing sad kid as they hold up MR. Gingerbread Man in several different pieces.  Dried more evenly if patted out thin.

The new school year is here and we are trying to settle into our new routine. Finding a little more structure than the free lazy day summers. So, here’s what we have been up to these past couple weeks..

Calming our minds and noticing the small details around us.

Crafting…..

Kids getting in on the crafting too..

Thinking of future ideas…

And the ever present cleaning…

You know how you have days that are not so great. Thinking it doesn’t seem to be getting any better as the hours tick by. Just waiting for the sun to set and try for a better tomorrow. And then something brightens you up, gives you inspiration, playfulness fills you again and it seems that today will be OK and tomorrow even better… Yesterday was one of those.

Company in the craft room to filled the hole that sadness had left. I was impatience about the unfinished walls. They just needed something, painted yes but till then a little something. I hung up some of my clipboards, along with vintage children record covers and old board games..Now, where did I put the rest of my stash to fill up the void spots??? It put a smile on my face to see it slowly come together. Then a little painting… representing my impatience to fly away to the destination I have in mind. Impatience was IF topic of the week, it all seemed to fit. Then these large face paintings we did that had everyone giddy with inspiration, eager to do more. Fun and Carefree. You really should try it. Think big! The stress of the day seeped from our fingers as the paint glided onto the paper. I will put that into my mental catalog of needed quick pick me ups, when the kids or myself are a little blue.

I love it when things just seem to come together. Line up and fit like a puzzle working itself.  It all started with tee pee talk.  Then a totem idea was added into the future village idea. A handy husband with his chain saw. Of course, that all required a search for a few promising fallen logs.  While looking around we come upon a place where the last storm had flooded the creek, washing out part of the field, leaving rocks of every shade. In pink, green, blue, white and speckled multi-colors. What started out as an Indian theme trip, turned into a rock excavating site. We dug, we ohhh, and ahh. Every little bit the kids jumping up and showing the new treasure that they had uncovered. Every little bit, I jumped up sharing what I found. A new found hobby blossomed right in front of them. Hoping a rock tumbler will be in our near future. Indian day forgotten. Or so I thought until hidden among pretty stones was flint and arrow heads. I guess the Indian study was just beginning. We brought back our pockets full of earth. The rest of the evening was spent washing and admiring. Planning more trips. One being to a historical Indian Earthworks site. Another back for another dig in hopes of a few more arrow heads. Craft idea that included kids making head dresses, corn silk dolls, handmade tools and music. While the arrow head, or at least what was left of the arrowheads was the main thrill. I was excited to see the kids curious about the rocks, what they were, what was rare, what was special? Where did they come from was just a few of the questions. Earlier in the school year we had come across a mineral curriculum. The kids had no desire to study. “We already know this mom.” was said with a bit of eye rolling. So, a quick refresh of the subject and we moved on. Book and ideas put away, the time was not right and that was fine with me.  I’ve pulled out those undesired books and ideas once again, this time they were welcomed open armed from my little rock hounds and with eager minds. This is how it should be. This is what gives me joy. When the time is right, it all clicks and unfolds before us like sun rising to begin another day.

My thrifty husband does it again. He grabs what I need. A place to hang my keys. This actually was not placed on his “if you find” list. But just mentioned during a chat we where having. So he does listen, at least some of the time. While he has done great lately, he fails miserably in style department with this one.  Shhh…we won’t tell him. I don’t want to loose my main man in the treasure hunt.  I just laughed it off and shook my head at him. He only wishes I’d cover the walls in camo.  A redo was a must and I wanted the girls involved.  I gave them some ideas of what we could put on it. My oldest said it should be a crazy random piece. It would suit our personality the best. You have no idea how random I can be. The girls chose the fabrics, a few some what finished pieces of an unfinished project I had laying around, I help a little but they had the finally say. And…  a place to hang our keys. And just cost a quarter, the supplies used to spruce it up was things we already had laying around. Yeah for thrifty ways. Even daddy said he like the new one better…but only because it was made by his little girls.

The before, yeah you need say no more….I know.

Yesterday I made a slip cover for my ugly free office chair. This slip cover was actually a trial one but it works quite well so will probably leave it on for a while.  However, the next one will definitely be made with brighter fabrics. Candy colors. Happy colors. Yellow? Maybe. I had so much of this fabric pattern and it is pretty so I used it. The only thing I will do different in making another one will be the elastic. It needs to be a little stronger.  I wheeled it up beside the other yellow shelf, which is on the kids side of my craft room. Right now it’s holding the kiddo’s craft supplies. And speaking of my kids. I miss them. Miss my older two. They have spent the week out of state with their cousins. It has been great for giving me a chance to get those little things that you never seem to get around to doing..done. I’ve also found out who messes the house up the most. The house has been visitor ready the whole week. Even my youngest hasn’t had any problems of picking up after herself. Still I miss those messy little monkeys. I talk to them every night. We have very length conversations, telling me every detail of their fun filled day. The catching tree frogs in the swimming pool, being scared by the barking neighbors dog, waking up before everyone else, crying at night when no one can hear because they miss home,(They’re OK during the day with fun and playing taking over. It’s the still of night that the miss their own beds), watching the fainting goats..faint, playing with kitten and puppies, spending the day with their cousins cousins. Tomorrow they come home. I think this was good for them, makes them feel more independent, a little sense of freedom. As much as it breaks my heart to hear of those tears falling from those beautiful eyes. I’m glad they do miss home. Glad they long for the peace and comfort they find with in these walls. Is that bad of me to feel that way?  Tomorrow when they arrive there will be lots of hugs, kisses and long storytelling that will probably last days. Hope every one’s weekend will be as happy as mine will.