End of the Roll 2021

I always like to a by the numbers post for my blog.  Here are some of the stats

Highest read post - What is Saving Me 2021 

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52 Ancestors - 16 posts

        most read - Brick Wall

                            Crime & Punishment

                            Legend

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My Favorite Post - It is so hard to choose. I have a couple

Valentine Card 2021

Weekly Roll - Need a Light and One Eye Bandit

State of Autism at Our House -2021

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50 Sun Project - Above is my 14/50 picture for my project. Taken on 12-27-2021.  It is bitterly cold with a wind chill of -13.  

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Wordy Wednesday Posts - 19 total posts. I am still using the heck out my letterboard

50 Suns -New Mexico Sunset /Colorado Sunrise

 Since I began the my 50 Sun project.  My people have been sending me their sunrise/sunset pictures. I love it.

The above picture is from New Mexico from my Husband. We all think it looks like a nativity picture.

The above sunrise is from Colorado from my sister. It is stunning.

52 Ancestors - Homemade

I have been participating in 52 Ancestors project . This is the last prompt of the year for me. I writing on the topic of Homemade.

My Grandma Bettie was an amazing talented seamstress and doll maker.  December 26th is her birthday so it only seems appropriate that in the month of December I write about her.

Bettie was born December 26, 1919 in Lancaster, Ohio.  She was the oldest of three children born to John and Eva.  My Grandmother never graduated from High School .  She didn't have enough money to pay for graduation - the dress etc. That always pained her as she had all the credits.  She married Frank in 1940.  Frank fought in World War II.  He carried the picture above in his wallet.  They had two children one being my father and another being a daughter. Bettie and Frank lived at Frank's parents house until his mother passed away. Bettie was known for her sewing skills. She also did crochet.   Below is a stocking I believe she made me.

She didn't work outside the home until her husband passed away in 1972.  She also didn't learn to drive until much later in her adult life. 

Bettie was extremely thrifty.  She was a saver as well. We lived far away so we didn't see her but during some of our summer months. Bettie flew several times to our house. She was a very nervous flier. She was at my wedding. 

She made me some amazing dolls and doll clothes. My Barbie's had the best clothes ever. I still have the china doll she made from a kit. Just the hands and head are made of china.

One Christmas I received a dancing doll. It was 4 feet tall. The doll was same height as I was. I called her Nancy.  When cabbage patch dolls were all the rage, she made my sister and I both one. In the picture below she also made the other dolls we were holding.

They were made from a kit. She also made very cool doll clothes. She made this dress this vintage doll is wearing in the picture below.

Bettie passed away in 2007. Bettie was 87. She had  2 children, 5 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren at her death.

The above picture was taken in Loveland Colorado at the Sculpture Garden.

Merry Christmas

 I was practicing the other morning and I caught this sunrise.  I hope is your Christmas is Merry!

Tigger also says, "Merry Christmas."  Do you know how hard is to get a dog to pose in front of the tree.

I thought I would show my face here.  

50 Sun Project -13/50 December Morning

 

This was taken December 5, 2021. It has turned cold. There is frost on the ground.

Weekly Roll

 

I was getting my hair cut and this came on the radio.  It took the hair dresser and I a few seconds to figure out who was singing this rendition.  I had never heard this before. This version might not be for anyone. I also got called "cute" at the hairdresser. I will take it especially since came from another gray haired lady.

Linky Love

Cool Wood Trees made from wood scraps

20 Homemade ornaments for your Family - Artful Parent - Kid Friendly

Upcycled Baubles - I was intrigued by this - I might experiment a bit with this.  

50 Sun Project - 12/50 Moody

 This sunrise is very "Moody".  I also got a peek a boo steeple sunrise picture.  We live next to a LDS church. Taken November 22, 2021

What I Read December

 I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit.  Check out what everyone has been reading.

Well I have an unusual title this month. I leaned on into the non fiction. Don't let it being non fiction scare you off. This non fiction book is a great read.

Owls of the Eastern Ice by Jonathan C Slaght

Truthfully I picked up this book off the hot reads table because my friend is a big fan of owls plus there were like 8 copies in a stack. I thought it must be a decent read if my library was willing to invest in that many copies.  This story follows Jonathan Slaght as he researches the fish owl. The fish owl is huge and elusive owl found in Russia along the sea of Japan and in Japan. The fish owl looks like a small bear with decorative feathers with a wing span of 6 feet and height of 2 feet. The owls like to nest in broken off trees that are hallow when they are nesting. Jonathan concentrates his research in eastern Russia .  There was so little research on the fish owl prior to Jonathan's research and one of the stories Jonathan found was how a hunter was bit in the testicles by a fish owl. I don't know why that tidbit hooked me. I enjoyed his story as he well as the colorful Russians he interacted with. There are some real characters. 

Wordy Wednesday

 

I found this via Elise Joy Cripe  - I think this is a quote found in her planner. It spoke to me.

Bottle Brush Tree Display

I was inspired while at a Christmas Craft fair.  I came home and put up this display in my powder room. I really need to spray paint the jar lids.  It makes me happy.  It is wonderfully imperfect. The trees I already had. Top picture I put a piece of foam core behind the display so you can actually see it better.  There is a mirror behind the display which makes it feel like a bigger display because of reflection

Weekly Roll

linky love

Mountaineer who found trove of rubies and gems

Starbuck Copy Cat Medicine Ball Tea - I posted this before.  It is the season.  Jessica always delivers.

Inappropriate Thoughts  - Though Strangely Christmas Appropriate

50 Sun - 11/50 Sometimes the best are at home

 I was up early so I decided to catch the sunrise over Mt Baker from a local hill. I headed out in my pajamas.  Well I didn't say I was prepared. I think I misjudged the actual time of the sunrise. This is a pic from what is known as Church Hill. 

However after I had been home for a bit I caught this even better sunrise. Sometimes the best are found at home.

Taken November 21, 2021.

Shiny Brite Display

I have a small vintage shiny brite collection of mainly ornaments from my husband's Nanna (grandmother) and my grandmother.  I have displayed it several different ways.  I usually have more out but I am all about mixing things up this year. I am going for a pared down look. 

I have a large candlestick collection so for many years I have displayed them on top of those candlesticks.  The tree is a recent edition. As many know, I have a weakness for glass trees. This one was a Walmart edition from a couple years back. I have some battery operated lights inside the tree. It looks great at night. The wreath was a Walgreens special from many years back.  I like to think this display has a little glitz. 

Weekly Roll

Picture of my oldest son with his tree.  He is a big peanut, winnie pooh, stitch fan so a lot of that is reflected in his decorating.

Inappropriate Thoughts

I think government generates to much paperwork.  I am in charge of my son's paperwork and the picture above is literally just this year's paperwork from mainly two agencies.  He has been slammed the last couple of months with interviews from said agencies and reviews.  I realize these are important. They are also stressful and literally since June there has been no let up.  These agencies while serving disabled people have forms and procedures that make able people question their sanity. 

Experimental Cooking

Wild Rice Pilaf - this was delicious.  It kinda reminded me of stuffing flavors Picture is of the prep. So if you have any left over apples, cranberries, celery and onions from your thanksgiving feast , this is a good use of those with a twist.

50 Sun Project - 10/50

 We have had some storms and flooding which has resulted in some pretty amazing Sunrises.  November 17, 2021

Wordy Wednesday - Christmas Mediation

I have for the last couple of years read a chapter of  the Gospel of Luke every day until Christmas starting December 1. This isn't revolutionary.  It is my way of remembering what this season is really about. Incidentally, there are 24 chapters in the Gospel of Luke. I don't have a bible study or commentary though I occasionally read it from a different version than the NIV.  I do have a study bible.  I read a chapter before bed. 

***bookmark if from my friend bun head. 

Wood Salvage Snowflake aka the junk snowflake

I

Back in 2019! I came up with this idea and we made this JUNK Snowflake. I never got it hung that year and one of the spokes broke. Well I decided this past weekend to get it fixed and hung. I really love it but it is quite large.

I like unique and I like snowflakes at Christmas time. I also like salvaged wood.  I came up with an idea for a snowflake using salvaged spindles. Luckily I have an extremely talented Husband who helped me see my vision through.

The big chunky spindles we think were off of a piece of furniture maybe a coffee table. We found them at the ReStore Bellingham. This led to buying ever wood bead or cap I saw at Goodwill.  In the end I didn't have enough of those so I bought bags of wood beads at Hobby Lobby and a red wood garland. We also bought 50 wood cabinet knobs at Skagit Building Salvage. We drilled a hole through the entire knob.

The hub my husband created by using a hole saw on a piece of salvaged wood. The center is double board thick. The beads are threaded on dowels and inserted into the spindles.

50 Sun Project - 9/50 Last Sunset of My 40s

 This is my first sunset picture in my project. I took this photo on the last day of being in my 40s.  This was taken over by a local middle school. The funny thing is someone else was taking a photo too. Great Minds think alike! Taken November 12, 2021 - Details about 50 Sunrise/Sunset Project

Wordy Wednesday

 As we headed into the Thanksgiving weekend, I thought we all need this reminder.  Be kind to one another.  

Tree Problems - Winter Shelfie

Well my little tree collection has grown and grown. I might have a problem. I know it is early to put up Christmas decorations but I only put up my trees and houses.  I consider that winter decorating?  I use some tea lights with a remote.  

Most of the trees are from various years at Target.  Yep, Target got all my money.  The two glass trees are candy canisters and were thrifted. On the top shelf are some trees my husband made me.

Last year's shelfie with tree resources for all budgets and crafting levels.

Weekly Roll - Flood Edition

 

The very minor flooding we had at the top of our hill at the playground.  I live in a county that was heavily flooded this past week.  I did not get any pictures other than around our neighborhood of the flooding.  We have a town in our county that was completely devastated. Our bridge that crosses the Nooksack river was shut down for a day and half.  Leaving very little ways to get into our small town. I didn't live here in 1990 when another historic flood happened.  I am grateful my house is high on a hill and I am heartened that so many people have stepped in to help those deeply effected by the flood. My youngest son helped bag sand on Monday of this past week. 

500 Residents  Displaced

Whatcom County Farmers Hit Hard by Extensive Flooding

Over 1,100 Volunteers Show Up

Aerial Photos of Flooding

50 Sun Project - 8/50 Election Day

 

This sunrise seemed appropriate as it was rather blue and red with gloom on the top. Shot taken the morning of November 2, 2021.

Wordy Wednesday

 

This quote was one that Elise Blaha Cripe wrote in her Instagram stories.  I have also been reading her book Big Dreams Daily Joys. She inspired my 50 sun project. 

** bookmark by my talented friend bun head.