Happy Saturday

Breakfast Pear Parfait

Serve yourself 1/2 cup plain oat cereal and 1/2 cup honey oat cereal. Top mixture with 1/2 cup pared and diced pears and 1/2 cup lowfat yogurt.

As you know, I love making cards.

some of my cards are great for including a recipe inside, thanking someone for dinner or to invite someone over for

coffee time or a meal

I will be listing a few more "food cards" on my etsy account next week
Will you pray today for this sweet baby girl? Adeline has had some feeding and growth problems and is currently recovering from surgery in Spokane. She is happy beautiful baby girl. Please pray that she may be able to grow and thrive and recover quickly.

Thriftin' Thursday

Wire basket $1, beautiful cloth napkin 25 cents (with yellow roses, my mom's favorite)

I have been searching for an old scrabble game to spell out phrases and greetings as part of my decor! I found one at the senior center a couple of weeks ago -- only $1!

Have you seen this 20 min. Praise Moves... I thought it looked neat! Maybe a great gift too. I wonder if our church library has it?


Have a great Thursday!!

Random thoughts from a random girl

Vance is off to work. The boys are asleep and I have time to sit and reflect. After Vance had five days of vacation (Mexico and Arizona, yeah I am a little jealous) he got thrown back into work early yesterday morning. One of the drivers was in a roll over accident in Othello. So, he headed out to Othello first thing in the am to check the scene (the driver was fine thankfully and he was the only vehicle involved). And then back out in the afternoon to survey things again. Also, he had a pile of this and that to catch up on from being away so yes, he was thrown in.
Merit went to the dentist yesterday and he has his first cavity, he was really bummed. I felt so bad for him.
Willem had a big fit in WalMart after we dropped Merit off at kindergarten -- the kind where you just turn around and walk out the door! Thankfully, I was only there for four items and he was begging for a Superbowl party pack, the price - $19.98! The fit was loud and ugly and I was running out of energy, so I parked the empty cart and out the door we went. Him hollering "WHERE are we going???" Made me giggle a little. My answer of course was "home, because you are crying and not acting nice."
I had scheduled a massage therapy appt for yesterday afternoon 4:30 but tried to cancel first thing in the morning. I had minor childcare issues. Also, I thought it might be better to just be home in the afternoon, cook a nice dinner etc. I called them right when they opened and asked the chiropractor's office to TRY to fill the spot but if they couldn't to call me back and I would take it -- I felt bad not giving them 24 hours notice. ANYWAY, they couldn't fill it. I gotta tell you, by 4:30 yesterday afternoon I was sooo glad to have that appt ~~ This massage therapist is wonderful and I had so much tightness in my jaw and head. But, what made me sort of laugh at myself is the fact that while I am on the massage table in a quiet warm room with soothing music playing, I am thinking about bills and what I am going to cook for dinner this week. !
My mind is spinning a little. I have one last college course that needs my attention and another two or three to register for this week. My vacuum is on the fritz, our garage door works about 60 percent of the time... didn't you like it better when I posted about cute cards I was making or hoped to make!?
I am feeling sooo much better this morning. It is a NEW day! And last night I came home to a yummy taco salad. Vance handled dinner. Merit was working on homework and Willem had had a much needed nap.
And this week I will continue to say NO to Superbowl party packs!
We will all brush and floss like we are in a competition.
I will haul my dustbuster out.
I will only open the garage door if it is an emergency. :)
And when I go for massage therapy in three weeks I WON'T think about bills or dinner.
And when I begin to fret, I must PRAY. God will take that worry away.

Paper Crafting

These cards are now Amy's!!

I needed a little paper crafting inspiration and got on Better Homes and Garden's site. They had 16 card making ideas! Below are two of my favorites. My Home Accents cricut cartridge has some fun botanical, earthy twigs and leaves --- so I think a variation of this happy birthday card is in my future. I also thought the safety pins and beads were fun on the second card! The winner of my handmade cards give away is Amy VanDalen~~Congrats Amy! Please send me your snail mail address so I can send those handmade cards to you next week!

Thriftin' Thursday

This bird book, the fun black basket and the little white bird... all recent thrift store finds. :)

I had several empty frames that I have been wanting to do something with. I adorned them all with the same fabric in an effort to sort of tie my front room together. The fabric I am crazy about. And it was a WalMart bargain $2.97 a yard! The little bench was a Goodwill find from December.

I love this old window frame. It has been outside since I bought it two years ago. I decided it was time to bring it in and add some of those beautiful fabrics to the spaces without glass. I was inspired by Buzzings of a Queen Bee's blog! She had taken pictures of a beautiful window frame of friend who had patterned paper behind each pane.

A Fun Giveaway~ and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WILLEM

My give away :) Just leave your comment on this post and you will be entered in my drawing! 5 fun cards and envelopes, all blank inside for your sentiments. I will draw Saturday.

Birthday Boy!! Our Willem is THREE TODAY!

Card Making Fun

I have been able to sneak away into my craftroom a few times over the past week and am so excited about my cards~ I am loving several packets of my Close to My Heart papers and their stamp sets are also very fun! One of these three sets of cards will be my GIVE AWAY for tomorrow... so check back. :)

Cold weather hikes, ducks on the water... and a sweet award

Merit and I went on a morning hike the other day and it felt so good to get some fresh air and just explore! Then yesterday, I decided to go on a hike with the two dogs - camera in hand... as I was walking along Crab Creek, I was hoping the dogs wouldn't stir up the ducks I was approaching. I had my camera ready and really wanted to get some good shots! I couldn't believe how close I was getting to these ducks! Our five month old puppy, Betty, was even in the water and the ducks were still there, none had flown away! It was quiet, no wind, I could just hear the dogs and the soft ripple of the water, as I am snapping away -- until a hunter said "how's it going?" Completely startled, I jumped back... and then realized I was taking pictures of decoys!

I have just received this kind award from Sharon. Thank you Sharon! and may you have a great day! check out http://theoldoakswing.blogspot.com/ .

This award is for ....."This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are extremely charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. I choose to deliver this award to Natasha, Daphine and Aubrey... if you choose to participate, please do.

Apple Crisp

Apple Crisp

a more healthy version

I am always searching for small baking dishes (nice lil' individual dishes). Chantal has very fun ones! Pumpkin, star and apple shapes...earth tones...bright vibrant colors...

The following recipe fits into two of these small baking dishes.

2 large granny smith apples, peelings removed -- apples sliced

Sprinkle over apples: 1/4 cup whole wheat flour 1/4 cup sugar

Mix in bowl:

1/3 - 1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup oatmeal

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Sprinkle this mixture on top of the coated apples. Bake at 375 for approx 30 minutes

ENJOY!

These little apple dishes (Chantal!) I picked up at the thrift store (40 cents each and they look brand new!)

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for winter and am thankful for nature.

I am thankful for these sweet, energetic, fun, talkative BOYS! Merit and Willem you are BLESSINGS!

And I also give thanks for my photography! And the many ways I have been blessed by it!

Simply Fun, some of the goofy and great from 2008

Will and Vance, Halibut Cove

Garden fun, Will and Michele

Merit, slip and sliding!

Our family at the dunes

The trucks seem to go faster if you aren't clothed! :)

Willem, blonde hair, bubbles and a smile I adore

rock band at gramma and papa's!

Luke!

Mitchell and Molly

Merit and Alivia... more water fun!!

Elijah's "camp out" birthday party









Tire swing fun with Grandpa Jim

Liz and Michele

Lane and Merit!

Willem!!

Brooke, Molly and Merit, more water fun in the backyard

Isabel giving Merit a pedicure in Ketchikan, AK

Neighbors and fun

Merit, our fish

Merit, Mackenzie and Willem

Merit Henry

Emma, Molly and Merit

Kaden, Merit and Shawn...Vance giving them a ride of their lives


Some of the goofy and great from 2008!!