Wood Salvage Snowflake aka the junk snowflake

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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. 

Book it November

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

Wahoo!  I finally got the last of the books I had on hold for the Summer Reading List.  We haven't even made it to winter yet.  I am living my best library hold life.

While Justice Sleeps by Stacy Abrams

I could see this book being turned into a movie.  I know the perfect actor for Major Vance. The characters in this book are strong. I found it a bit wordy. I found myself re reading quite a bit at the beginning to get use to this author's writing style. I generally read before bed so maybe it was just because I was over tired.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

This I believe is the perfect vacation read.  I could not put down.  I literally stayed up past my bedtime to finish. Good fast paced story with interesting characters.  I see this is going to be turned into a movie. 

Broken by Jenny Lawson

I didn't complete.  I did read a couple chapters and I did laugh at the finger cot. Right now, right now this wasn't the book for me.  This is a book I might revisit. It was my final hold from my Summer Reading List

Weekly Roll - My Favorite Things Edition

Below are my favorite things.

Oh, I love a good letterboard quote!

Coffee, coffee, coffee - My husband and I currently subscribe to Black Rifle Coffee. Love their mission and their coffee

Podcasts - Cold, Undisclosed, Hide and Seek, - I love true crime but mainly unsolved crime. I also talked  a lot about the Missing on 9/11 podcast

Piano - Currently practicing a bit of Christmas Music. Don't hate. Christmas Music is HARD.

Good Books of the Last Year - probably more on the non fiction side lately but also love fiction. Favorite Books of the year

    Walking by Elring Kagge

    Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi

    This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

    Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts 

    Chasing the Thrill by Daniel Barbaisi

Instagrammers that I love

        Venison for Dinner- homesteader, bad ass girl boss, straight talker, Canadian

        My Weathered Home - Emily is a picker and antique booth owner.  She is fabulous

        Deb and Danelle - These ladies make me laugh.  Their cottage is amazing. 

        Mr D Times 3 - The teacher comedian

        Aubrey Swan - THE DEALS

Love Adventures with my Family

50 Sun Project - 7/50

 

It is always dark before it is light. October 22, 201

52 Ancestors - Military

This 52 ancestors prompt from Amy Johnson Crow was a while ago like for the last week of May.  I never completed so I decided to share my writing on Veteran's Day.  Happy Veteran's Day.

In both my husband and my family there is a long tradition of military service. Both my husband and I have served. We met in the Army at the 160th Special operation Selection and Training. When I met him, he was changing long fluorescent light bulbs by standing on a chair on a table. That is definitely not OSHA approved.  We have been married 26 years this year. 

Both of our Grandfather's were in the Army Corp of Engineers during WW II but different units. My Husband's Great Grandfather was awarded the Purple Heart during WW1. Both of our father's were in the military during Vietnam.  

I wanted to write a bit about my Husband's Great Grandfather. We have his purple heart.  I have heard many stories from his son, Pappy,  about him.  Carl was a difficult man. I would dare say abusive in many ways to his son. Many in his family said he came back from the war a changed person. There is not much said about his wartime service but I want to share all I know.  You don't get a purple heart for being a coward. 

Carl was a first generation American. Both of his parents were from Norway.  He was born in 1890 in Superior Wisconsin. By 1905, the family lived in Aitkin, Minnesota and homesteaded. Carl enlisted Feb 18, 1918 and was discharged April 29, 1919.  He was a private in the  58th Infantry 4th Division. There is a campaign ribbon with the purple heart for St Mihiel Campaign. That campaign was waged September 12-15th, 1918 in France.

The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought from 12–15 September 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French troops under the command of General John J. Pershing of the United States against German positions. The U.S. Army Air Service played a significant role in this action - wikipedia

After the war, Carl was a farmer on his family homestead along with other activities such as logging. He married shortly after the war and in 1920 my husband's Pappy was born.  His marriage would not last long.  In 1935, he would marry again. According to the 1940 census he was residing in Minneapolis MN.  Carl worked for the post office as a custodian. Carl passed away in 1963 of prostate cancer. 

Suprise Thrift Find - Madrid Glass

I collect Madrid Depression Glass.  I have collected since High School.  I was so wowed the other day to go in Goodwill and find this on a shelf for $5.99.  It wasn't even in their locked cabinet.  I had forgotten I had the smaller water pitcher. 

It is hard to get a good pic with the pattern showing. I am happy to add this pitcher to my collection.

Weekly Roll - In the Toilet Edition

Linky Love

Colorful Stained Glass In Found Wood - this is stunning

The World's Largest Potato - They named it Doug.  I don't know why I find this so amusing.

Inappropriate Thoughts

That is a quality picture there complete with my thumb. Yes that is the inside of the toilet. My week was literally in the toilet. My son's bathroom toilet has issues.  I replaced the flapper. The toilet was running constantly. That fixed that. Then it wouldn't flush.  Finally adjusted the chain etc.  I am not a plumber and my boys bathroom was vile.  They are normally in charge of the cleaning. I deep cleaned it in June.  I obviously need to supervise this more closely.  I literally wanted to burn my clothes and the dog kept sniffing me.  I know you are here for this riveting content.

50 Sun Project - 5/50 Power Out

 

The most significant thing about this morning is we lost our power but we did get to enjoy a nice sunrise. - September 12th

Wordy Wednesday