What I learned in November

I learned it isn't too bad to turn 43!  I had a nice low key birthday.  Loved it! I should probably change my "about me" on my blog side bar.

Kmart's Jingle Bellies ad cracks me up.  I know not totally appropriate but funny.



Jingle Bells by a beginning trumpet player is INTERESTING. I love that now the playing has improved to sound like Jingle Bells.  Which is NICE!

Black Friday Linky Love

Are you full of turkey?  Here are some interesting links to waste your down time.

3 Video Games that Improve Focus

Unconventional Honeymooners - Over at 100 Dollars of a Month she had a post about honeymooners who traveled the U.S.A. performing and profiling hourly jobs.  Check it out.  This is a couple on a mission.

Broccoli, Jerry Seinfeld, Insurance Reform

Much has come out in the last month and half about gains in Autism Research.  As a parent to a kid on the spectrum, I like to keep abreast of such things.

There was a recent study that was done that a chemical compound found in broccoli sprouts aka sulforaphane can lessen the effects of Autism. After reading about the study, I pretty much wanted to run out and purchase broccoli sprout extract .  The funny thing or maybe the ironic thing is broccoli is one of my aspie's favorite vegetable unfortunately he would have to consume an ungodly amount to get the same results.  Autism Daddy had a pretty comprehensive post on broccoli research and the fever effect. Here is the link to Seattle Children's Autism Center Blog

There was a lot of hub bub about Jerry Seinfeld being on the spectrum.  I place this in the category that anything that helps awareness is great and I am for. More importantly, I am not sure that it actually increases acceptance.



Washington State became the 38th state to require autism coverage.  This is HUGE.  Maybe now my kid can receive ABA therapy. My guess is even with this change all the result will be is a lack of providers.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Today is my Birthday!!!

So I thought I would be Oprah like and share some of my favorite things without the big giveaway -

Libraries
We have a new one.  This is so exciting to me.


Plants
Sometimes the more distressed the better. My I like Big Plants is one of my most clicked blog posts.

Giant Aloe Plant with baby aloes

Tea
I know I live in the land of coffee aka Home to Starbucks. But I like to end my day with tea.  I am currently hoarding a stockpile of Nutcracker Sweet which is only found in grocery stores during the holidays.  But my other go to teas are Red Rose and Sweet and Spicy.

Donuts
I cannot lie.  I love donuts.  I blame my father.(love ya Dad) My favorites are buttermilk bars and maple bars. 

Happy Veteran's Day

My Dad - U.S. Air Force

 

 

Thank to all that are serving and those that have served.  Thank you for your service to our great country.

Shadow Photos

I seem to have a fascination with shadow photos. Thought I would share a few. Does anyone else go through a phase where they seem to take photos with a theme?

Heart in the Blinds
 

windmill shadow in our garden

sun shadow from origami hung in window

 

Burlap Wreath

I have been seeing burlap wreaths EVERYWHERE. I have pinned a bunch on my wreath pinterest board. I decided to take the plunge when I scrounged a wire wreath form for free.  It pays to look in the Re-Store free bin. This whole project was around  5 dollars.  The burlap I got from Walmart and the felt from Micheals. The burlap wreath pictured in All of You October 2014 priced out at about $9.33.

I made the wreath but it needed SOMETHING.  I love the look of felt flowers.  I used the tutorial over at the Crafted Sparrow

 

 





Crazy Christmas Cactus Lady

Yes, I am a crazy Christmas Cactus lady.  I have 6 Christmas Cactus.  In the picture below, 5 are pictured

I am living by the motto you never can have too many that is the basic principal of my plant philosophy. While some of the cactus are blooming, I thought I would share a few pictures. These are in a north facing window.

I think this especially dark dreary time of year in the Pacific Northwest it is nice to have some pretty blooms.

Haunted Forest Part 2

Charlie in his werewolf mask on the Game Camera

On Halloween, we worked the Haunted Forest.   The rain seemed to stop just when we needed it to. I thought I would share some more pictures. This was an eagle scout project whose goal was to raise food goods for the local food bank. It was held at the local gun range in a wooded area on the property. We had quite a few people who came through on Halloween. See Part 1

The Haunted Forest Food Drive ended with huge success. With the great effort of the Custer Sportsmen's Club the Food Drive was able to collect over 2187 lbs of food for the Ferndale Food Bank! That is nearly 3 times the goal that I had for this event. The success of the Haunted Forest Food Drive was a direct result of the generosity of the patrons of the Custer Sportsmen's Club.

Cody examining a dummy caught in a web

 

Cody in skeleton mask

One of the zombies

 

The Scout in Charge