Lego Love

According to my sister, The Polyester Princess, I have too much time on my hands. This just might prove it. Can you ever be too old to play with Lego's? Won't this look cute displayed somewhere like my entertainment center. What are the chances that Chuckles will let me keep it up?

Making Valentine's

Diva - age 6

Yesterday Morning, Chuckles and the Diva spent some time making Valentine's. I was able to pick up some card kits at Target that came with the stickers, foamies, and cards with envelopes. They really got into the creation. We do this every year but this year they really got into it. Of course, we took a Valentine's picture but that isn't going to be revealed today.

Chuckles - age 6

Thrifting Mojo

Friday, Mrs Epi and I got our thrifting MOJO back. We headed south to check out some thrift shops in a different city. Oh what a difference location makes. Some cosmic brownies did help the whole mojo factor, too. I got a lovely sewing table. I had been on the lookout for one. I didn't want to buy one with an old machine in it. My family will be so happy to know that I will be sewing up in the guest room where my cutting table/storage is rather than the dining room table. The table isn't perfect but for $10 you can't beat it and it is sturdy and heavy. Praise the Lord that Mrs Epi had her adventure van. I seem to find big stuff when I am with her - remember the 27 cent bookcase. Mrs Epi didn't walk away empty handed either. She is working on her whole urban cottage theme. I can't wait to see the finished product. Needs some tips for thrifting check these out at Simple Mom.

Double Trouble

Puss and Boots

Inauguration Day

Thought I would I would share a few moments of our HISTORIC day. This was the awesome sunrise. It got progressively more beautiful. I made my young charges watch the Inauguration. It was a little civic lesson. The picture below says it all.

We have to work on the right hand over the heart.

Better

This was the "Kumbaya" moment of the whole morning.

Dollar Store Love

Just had to share my little dollar store frame with left over fabric scraps. Just trying to spread the love.

Valentine Remailing

Loveland, Colorado is known worldwide as the Sweetheart city. Every year 1,000's of Valentine's are remailed from here stamped with a special cachet. The cachet is different every year. You too can have your Valentine's hand stamped with the Valentine Cachet by simply addressing your valentine and placing it in a larger envelope addressed as follows:

Postmaster
Attn: Valentine's
446 E. 29th St
Loveland, CO 80538

Need more details click here. The post office must receive them before February 9th to receive the cachet and special postmark. Surprise your Sweetheart!

Valentine's Decorating

Yes, I decorate for Valentine's. It isn't like Christmas decorating but I have certain items I like to put out for Valentine's. Hey, I grew up in the Sweetheart City, Loveland Colorado. My parents were married on Valentine's Day.

I kept out some of my shiny brites that were pink and placed them on my glass candlesticks with some Kim Anderson figurines I have. The Diva and Chuckles helped me put up the Valentine Clings. They really love doing that. Chuckles really didn't get that they needed to be spread out and fill the whole window.

I would love to incorporate some of Skip to My Lou's Valentine Ideas. I love the wax paper heart idea and the heart attack. I have started on making some Valentine's. I will be posting re-mailing instructions for those who want to have their Valentine's postmarked with Loveland's Special Valentine Cachet next week.

1st Quilt of the New Year

I have been an absent blogger this week. I completed this very girly baby quilt for a neighbor. She is due at the end of the week. I have purchased the fabric for another baby quilt so I hope to cut that out soon. It is going to be red. It will be the first red one that I have done.

Hydrate or Die

How is that for a title? That is what my hubby told me he was going to do this morning. According to him this was Camelbacks ad tag line. The Giant Man Child has had pneumonia for the past week. He stayed home all week. With the flood and all of us having some dang version of the COUGH. It was a long week. So, I propose better health in the coming week. The flood waters have receded and the cough is less lethal.

New Book Club Book

The selection for this month is "The Family on Beartown Road" by Elizabeth Cohen. Book Club members avert your eyes from the next portion. I finished the book in one afternoon. It was a good read and I would recommend it. It was a very honest portrait of a Mom dealing with a newborn and her father with Alzheimer's and being the caretaker for both.

The books I hope to read in 2009 (not necessarily book club books)

The Twlight Series (I know I the last person on earth to have not read these -even Ms Smarty Pants has)

The Absolutely True Diary of A Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (I believe this is part of Whatcom County Reads)

The Associate by John Grisham

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

One False Note by Gordon Korman (Part of the 39 Clues Series - I already have the book in my little hot hands)

The list seems rather short compared to last year. I did read all 5 books listed in that highlight post for books to read for 2008.

Our Local Attraction

Train Trestle

Close up of the water and the Nine Inch Nail Graffiti

Close up of Pioneer Bridge just opposite of the train trestle.

caption says - trees underwater (water shouldn't be here)

The river has flooded. Luckily our bridge (Pioneer) is intact. So, where is the whole town? We are downtown looking at the flooding. School was canceled for today. I swear it is rush hour with bumper to bumper traffic on Main Street. Hey, Mother Nature is cool and destructive.

Anyone have an ARK?

Photo taken 1/7/09 at 3:25 pm

First, we have the record snow. Then, we have heavy rain that is melting the record snow. We live right next to a retention pond for storm water. The picture above is of the pond. The photo was taken from the from the front of Mrs Respiratory Therapist's house. It is the fullest I have ever seen it. Also the Nooksack River runs right through town. Fun times! One local blogger is claiming that Urban Flooding is sexy. Don't know if I am buying that yet. Maybe some cute guys will show up to clear the drains. That would make flooding sexy.

Lego Lovers

Even Lego's are confused by the directions

This is my children's new favorite link, a Lego a Day. This link is for the lego lover. I have to admit this guy has a way with Lego's. My favorites have to be Day 219, Day 197, Day 135, and Day 23. Chuckles and I tried to create our own Lego photo. It is not quite the same. The 365 photo project seems to be the latest rage in scrapbooking and among creative types. Photojojo does a good job explaining the 365 day photo project.

Threadbangers

I just received my Sewing and Stitchery Expo brochure. The Sewing Expo is Feb 26,27, 28, and March 1 at the Puyallup Fair and Events Center. I have yet to attend . Something always comes up but hope springs eternal. The Threadbangers are going to be there on Sunday, March,1 for a Threadbanger's Recycle Rama. I haven't heard about them until recently. I was browsing blogs and saw that Alliwoo was going to attempt one of their projects. Threadbangers are into recycled sewing projects. Doesn't the name sound like a bad metal band. I know several mommies that are great at this recycled clothing stuff. Check out Making a Home and her project for some play dresses. I wish I had some girls. Fifi Banjello is the expert at this recycle stuff. Check out this grocery bag from a tank top. She also has several other projects that she has done from recycled clothing items.

Peace Arch on TV

Evidently the Peace Arch Border Crossing/Park in going to be featured on ABC's new reality television series, "Homeland Security USA" on Tuesday Jan 6. Check it out.

edited to add: FYI - I believe they will only show the Customs Officers taking apart a car. Customs wears blue and Border Protection (aka Border Patrol) wears the green pickle suit.

New Year, New Snow

The morning of the New Year we had some more snow. Chuckles liked playing in it but it was a very wet heavy snow.

New Year, New Word

I am especially fond of Ali Edwards 1 little word resolution. My word last year was SEEK. My word this year is STAND. There is a Rascal Flatts song with the title "Stand".



Lyrics
You feel like a candle in a hurricane
Just like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless like you've lost your fight
But you'll be alright
You'll be alright
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause it's all you can taken your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you stand
Then you stand
Life's like a novel with the end ripped out
The edge of a canyon with only one way down
Take what you're given before its gone
Start holding on, keep holding on
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you stand (then you stand)
Yea, then you stand (then you stand)
Every time you get up
And get back in the race
One more small piece of you
Starts to fall into place, yea
Ooohhh Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you stand (then you stand)
Then you stand (then you stand)
Yea, then you stand (then you stand)Yea (then you stand)