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| (one of many turtles at the "lake" in our new complex) |
Let's just say that my Friday off was less than productive. I had the whole day and nothing planned. So what did I do? Nothing.
I know that I've written about this before, and my mom will just be nodding her head as she reads this, but it has always been a weakness for me. It's not that I don't have things I want to do, there just isn't a deadline for everything in my life. I thrive on deadlines. And checklists.
At work I have started to schedule all of the tasks for my projects on my calendar. I can't just say, "I'll do that this week." I have to say, "I'll do that from 3:00-4:00 on Wednesday." Now I don't stick to it 100% but at least it is on there and I don't forget that it needs to get done.
So tonight I sat down and created a schedule for my home. A schedule that plans time for crafting, blogging, baking and other projects. Of course it also includes things like cleaning, laundry and dishes. Hopefully having a plan to start with will help me to have more productive days.
This coming week, I'll have even more time, because my stud muffin is leaving me for a week. To go learn more about this golden stuff:
He leaves tomorrow for a week long "Grain Elevator Management Short Course" at Kansas state. Sounds really exciting, huh?
He's packing his swimsuit. I told him not to use it. For one, I don't have a pool to swim in. Secondly, there might be girls. I really don't care how long I've been with Adam, I will probably always think that there is some awful woman out there that will try to steal him. I trust him, just not those crazy vixens! ;) (Okay, I really don't stress that much about it.)
All I hope is that the pup keeps her crazy barking to a minimum. Like the kind of barking that makes you think someone is standing outside of the house trying to kill us. But it was really just a bird. Yeah, that kind of barking will not fly this week.
Hope that you all are having a great weekend!
P.S. I might start blogging about our bathroom remodel a little next week! I've got lots of pictures to sort through and edit, so it will take a while.
Adam is on a mission this year to clean out our ditches. He’s been cleaning out old stumps, tree limbs and garbage. Last Saturday, he finally was able to weed-whack and then mow.
I was busy painting and heard him yelling for me. Well, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it sure wasn’t this:
(Now, I did not zoom in. He really let me get this close with my camera. Just sat there.)
Adam had run over their nest and scared this little guy out. I came to learn later that a rather large snake had been making it’s way to the bunny as well until Adam scared him off. If I had known this, I don’t think I would have been on my hands and knees in the long grass!
Don’t worry, we didn’t hurt him. Adam was using the shovel as a guide to push him back to the nest.
The little guy got scared and ran the wrong way. Then he stopped and let me get close again. At this point we weren’t sure he’d make it back home before another snake or hawk found him. So I went to pick him up. He didn’t even try to run, but was rather annoyed to be hanging in the air.
He made it back to the hole, safe and sound, with his siblings. We’ve tried to stay away for awhile, so I don’t know if the bunnies are still there.
Thankfully, though, the nest is on the other side of Melody’s electric fence. So they’re safe from her. Though she wasn’t too happy about that fact. She stared at us the entire time, knowing that there was a tasty bunny just out of her reach.
…that make my day.
First off, I apologize for my long absence! But I hope to have some time soon. Today I was working in the kitchen on a few things, with my trust laptop on the windowsill for recipes.
Now, when I am working in the house I need some good white noise, not a radio, but the tv or a movie. Since my kitchen has no tv or is even in sight of a tv, this is pretty much impossible when I am baking.
Then today I stared at the laptop a little longer.
Why in the world couldn’t I pop a dvd into this machine?! Now I get to look at my recipe, bake some bread, and watch/listen to “The Holiday” all at the same time!
And watch my handy husband move and re-assemble our playground in the back yard. :)
Hope you’re having a great Saturday!
Just a quick card post. I’ve actually been making quite a few cards lately, but I’ve been too busy to get them all posted.
I made this one while playing around with my new stamps. I’m still trying to learn how to cut around shapes. Well, I can cut, just can’t keep a consistent border.
Not super tickled about the color combo, but I’m trying to break out of my box a little. Really do love those fonts, though.
Quick update from out night on the town: didn’t happen. We got to the bar about an hour and a half before the game and it was full to bursting. Looked like it had been full for a while. We tried a few other places and realized that we were doomed to watch the game at home. We picked up some wings from Famous Dave’s and headed home. Apparently I’m a really exciting person, because I fell asleep in the middle of the second half!
Supplies: (All Papertrey Ink unless noted otherwise)
Stamps: Fillable Frames #2, Polka Dot Basics II, and Turning Leaf
Cardstock: Kraft and New Leaf
Ink: Dark Chocolate, New Leaf and Terracotta Tile
Ribbon: Fresh Snow Grosgrain, Rustic Cream Twine
Other: Vintage Buttons: Rustic Wood
One of the great things about our property is the countryside around it. We are blessed to have this fantastic front porch that runs the entire width of our house. Unfortunately the only thing that we had to sit on out there were camp chairs. Fine chairs, but they were so low that all you saw was the porch railing.
So I found this beauty on walmart.com:
Of course we didn’t notice that it was designed to be hung from a stand. Let’s just say that I didn’t want to have to use a ladder to get onto my swing.
So after a trip to the hardware store for more chain, we’ve got a working porch swing! I think it’s a little odd that it leans back like that so much, but it sits great. (Is that really a verb?)
Excuse the poor quality of the next picture, but there is no way that I could have walked outside to catch her sitting like this. Trust me, she doesn’t just sit like this outside. I watched her long enough to realize that she was watching the farmer in the field across the road. Apparently she need to keep an eye on him.
Yes, it’s Friday, so you are subjected to pictures of my trees again.
Would you believe that the picture on the left is two weeks old and the one on the right is from today? Melting snow apparently makes for greener grass. I can’t imagine what it will look like after one good rain storm.
We’re off to town tonight. The local UNI Panthers are taking on Michigan State and it’s just too much of a big game to watch at home. After last week’s crazy upset, fans are in a frenzy here. (They even made it on the cover of Sports Illustrated last week.) We’ll also watch the Ohio State game in honor of my dad. If both teams win tonight, they’ll go head-to-head on Sunday. Enough sports talk for you? Me too.
Have a great weekend!
I walked out to get the mail this afternoon, avoiding puddles of melted snow and mud. I wasn’t very successful. On my way back, I heard a noise that caused me to stop and drink in the moment.
The slow trickle of melting snow. It sounded like a peaceful, babbling brook. The snow saying, “Goodbye, I hope you enjoy the spring.”
I had been on my work computer all day. Staring at a screen. Then I heard the trickle. I like it when God reminds me of the beauty of His creation.
It won’t be too much longer and we’ll watch the farmer plant this field and then watch the green tips push through the dark, rich soil.
Melody has been enjoying the change of season. Her old haunts are accessible again. Left with new smells from the winter. She traipses through snow and mud and stays warm in the chilly breeze with her dark coat.
(By the way, did you check out those webbed feet above? That girl can swim!)
She had learned how to carry this huge tennis ball and over-sized rope in her mouth at the same time. Yes, I assure you, she has actually done it.
I love that we have given Melody a place that she can run. She is such a happier dog when she can run.
I told Adam the other day that it’s not any particular season that I like, but rather the change of seasons. I love the longing for spring, summer, fall or winter. For the changing weather, the feel of something new.
When this:
…will turn into this:
Funny. I was listening to the radio this afternoon and I heard a song by Steven Curtis Chapman (SCC). At first I thought that it was the song we had at our wedding. But it wasn’t.
There had been two SCC songs that we had debated between. The one on the radio had lyrics something like, “I’ll be here.” The one that we chose was, “Go with You.” Kinda fitting don’t you think? I didn’t sit “here” somewhere, waiting for Adam. I went with him. I went with him 6 times. I went with him to 4 states. I went through life with him. Like I said, I think we chose the right song.
(This was the first time we went. Moved to Iowa two days after our wedding.)
Oh, my little blog, how I’ve missed you! LOTS has happened in the past few weeks, so expect frequent updates! I’ll be back later with a real post. :)
I've been fairly absent from my blog lately. And will probably be absent for a while. But do you know what?? God is doing great things right now that are keeping me busy.
Did I tell you? We're moving to Iowa!! Never did I dream that I would say those words with true happiness, but that is how I feel. Maybe joyful would be a better description.
Below is about the only picture that I have from the last time we lived in Iowa, three years ago. We moved there two days after our wedding for Adam's summer internship. After a long, boring summer, I vowed never to return to that awful state.
Confused yet? Since we have moved away, I have become much closer with Adam's extended family in Iowa. I've also learned that we lived in a really old, boring town. This time we'll be in a better town, and much closer to family. Including 6 little cuties like this:
Adam will be working for another co-op, doing pretty much the same thing as he is now, but with a better company who is more interested in his future.
Me? Well, funny story. So by accident found a job on our new church's website...applied...called to see if job was even still available...yes and they were already planning to set up an interview..."I'll be there on Sunday, does that work for you?"...interview on Sunday goes great...telling Adam about how it went...tap,tap,tap..."Do you have a minute to talk to the director?" says one of the interviewers...talk for few minutes..."Do you want the job?" "YES!" "Okay."...He adds as I walk about the door, "I knew as soon as we got your application."
God. Thank you. You are mysterious and wonderful. Your plan is far more than I could ever hope to dream up myself.
And the last, and most exciting, bit of news? Well, I'll leave you with a picture, of ...
We have been waiting on God's directions for, really, years for this point in our lives. We keep waiting for directions. Sometimes we have felt burdened by those directions. But always, they are the best. The right directions. Without those burdens and detours, we could never have found our way to the blessings that God has given us in these last few weeks. We pray that we will begin a season of steadiness, but also know that we have no idea what is in store for us next!!
I need to send out a couple cards this week and ended up trying a few new tricks. The card below completely created itself...over three days!
I started with the Melon Berry background. Got stuck. Decided to do the sentiment that hangs off the side of the card. Did the stamping, handwriting and drew the border. Once I added the ribbon I got stuck. I tried everything I own on that spot to make it look finished.
The pearl? Accident. I went to the craft store on Main Street yesterday to pick up another set of Nesties. While I was getting rung up I saw these pearls and thought they should find a home in my stash. So when I got home, there was the unfinished card on my scrap table. Hmmm....I wonder if one of those pearls would fit there? Like I said. The card made itself. :)
** Please don't mention the crooked "P"s. I will just have to be happy with it. lol!
Embellished envelopes? Not usually my thing since I mail all of my cards. But since this and the next card were getting mailed together in another envelope, why not?
This card was an accident. I really just wanted to play with Tags for Spring (PTI) and ended up making the whole circle embellishment. It looked just too pretty so I remembered the birthday card I needed to make anyway.
This is one of the few times that I have "fussy cut" with those butterflies. Won't be trying that again any time soon, unless I get some better scissors.
Envelope for this card? Yes, it was made. No, you don't get to see it. It's okay, but it wasn't worth my time to take a picture, edit and post.
Life Update: We're heading to Iowa this weekend so see some of Adam's family. We haven't been there since May 2007, so we've got lots of visiting to do. It'll be a fun, but jam packed weekend. Melody is getting left at a boarding kennel for the first time. I'm going to cry, and I don't care who laughs at me!! Mel, on the other hand, will love it. Four 1/2hour walks each day, play time with other dogs. She'll be exhausted when we pick her up on Sunday!
I made a cake earlier today. Now I must go clean my kitchen before Adam gets home. When I bake, it looks like...wait. I'm going to take a picture.
Now, before I show you these, just know that usually it is worse. But I show it to you in hopes that anyone else who suffers from being a messy baker will not feel so alone!
We start here. Why did I not throw the butter wrappers away when I unwrapped the butter? Why did I not put the vanilla away in the cabinet above, which is open? Adam doesn't ask these questions anymore. As long as what I made tastes good, he's happy.
The other side of the stove. Opened powdered sugar and pecans, dirty dishes from today and last night when we were in a rush to get out the door.
A bowl of soaking dishes (I made an attempt at clean up!), a sink of clean dishes that I washed last night (I do wash dishes), and the finished cake. Wait! I see a piece missing. I didn't know Melody knew how to use a knife. ;)
The prep space. Relatively clean for me.
So Mom, now instead of my room, I mess up the kitchen. Nothing really changes, does it? Okay, off to clean. Have a good night!
I love sales. I love purses. A sale on purses? I'm done for. Walked into Shop-Ko today to check on a couple rainchecks (which I never did!) but got distracted by the gorgeous spring purses that met me at the door. Then I saw it. Buy One, Get One Free.
This is one of my lovely new purses. It just screams SUNSHINE!!
Well, I can't justify to Adam that I need two new purses, no matter the cost. I couldn't even justify it for myself. But it was buy one, get one FREE!! Of course, I'll get one for someone else. I know just who. I picked out the perfect one, took it to the register, but of course. I picked one of the few that was not on sale. But finally settled on this:
Not something that you'd find on my arm, but it'll look great on the person getting this. I'm not sure if she reads this blog, but I'm not saying who is getting this yet. It'll be a surprise.
Anyone found any great deals? Or been suckered into a deal? (I totally would not have even bought one purse had it not been for the sale!) What is making you think of spring? Let me know. I'm starting to feel lonely over here!
**Warning: Mushy/Sad/Mushy Stuff to follow!
Well, it's now 2:30am and I haven't been to bed yet. Just busy crafting and watching sappy movies on Lifetime. Just thinking about how much I really love my husband. Like REALLY. I know that I've loved him since the day we met in the River Falls High School gym almost 6 years ago. He is my best friend, the person with whom I can share everything about myself.
The whole "leave and cleave" part of marriage I think tends to get all messed up. What does it mean to become "one" with your spouse? I don't really know, but I feel like after last spring, Adam and I jumped ahead decades.
There was one night during my weeks in the hospital that was really BAD. It was the night after we buried our son. Beyond emotional pain, I knew that something wasn't right in my abdomen. After two weeks already in the hospital, I had thought that I was on the mend. Not so. That night I had a tube re-inserted through my nose into my stomach, which made me vomit profusely, and was given awful medicine that made awful things happen. I can't remember a time when I have felt worse.
But I didn't want my mom or dad. All I wanted, needed, was Adam. He is the part of me that makes me whole, because we have been made one. All through my ordeal we had amazing support from family, friends, nurses and strangers. But Adam is part of me. We have left the security and shelter of our parents and created a new #1. Now, I love my parents (really do Mom and Dad!!) but they are no longer my #1. Adam, God and Me make up my #1. Three joined as one.
Now, this does not mean that we don't fight or get annoyed with each other. Like tonight! We were in Menards and Adam made some dumb comment. I snapped at him and walked away. Later he found me and just kinda talked like things were okay. After much talking, come to find out that he didn't even know I was mad at him! Really?? I dunno, I figured I was pretty obvious, but then I am woman and he is a man. But I love him.
So I'm not really sure what the point of this post it, but we'll just say that my blog was hijacked by journal tonight. And I can put whatever I want into my journal!
P.S. My family is pretty stellar. My little/only sister had her senior prom while I was in the hospital. She brought her whole group to the hospital so that I could see her all dressed up. Kristi's the one in the cute green dress.
I'm betting on a snow day for tomorrow! We'll be getting 10-12" of snow, with most of it coming during rush hour tomorrow morning. Which means no school!
The best part, it'll be finished by the time we need to leave for our weekend in Door County!
Oh, and we may even have "thunder snow" tonight. Told Adam to wake me up if he hears it. As many can attest, I am a SOUND sleeper. I did fall asleep while at a NBA game in college!
Been busy working on Christmas projects, but since most of the recipients are readers here, I can't show you pictures. But I will, promise. One in particular I just don't think I can part with!
Hope you all are enjoying your Christmas season. We get really excited about Christmas these days. But just think about how excited God and the Angels were in the days leading up to Jesus's birth. They knew all that was going to happen. Pure joy and excitement!
Off to bed...and hopefully to sleep in!
Yes, I am back. Just when I started to get some regular readers, I disappear for a whole month! Life was happening for a while. Had to experience it. One of the biggest reasons that I have been absent is because I was in a craft fair this past weekend! Adam was on a walk about two weeks before and saw a sign that the mall across the street from us was having a craft fair and needed crafters. Why not?! So for two weeks I busted my butt to get some inventory built up and set up my "business" affairs as well.
This was one of my two tables. Overall traffic at the fair was HORRIBLE. But then there are literally only 4 stores left in this mall. I did sell enough to feel it was a success. I got a few orders for onesies like these:
And several people took my card with promises to call. Even a few who may be interested in wedding invitations! I would LOVE to do weddings. I made a new blog just for my business Felicity Avenue. Check it out!
In other Dykstra news, we spent Thanksgiving with Dykstras yesterday. It was a really nice day. Got to spend some time with Adam's cousin Kurt who I really haven't ever talked with, just in passing on a few holidays. Starting to really "settle" in to the family. We won't make the Dykstra Christmas this year, so it was nice to see everyone.
Adam is starting to wind down from harvest. Well, wind down a little. He's still working this whole weekend. I think if his machinery would cooperate, he'd be home a lot sooner each day. Grrrr....
Got my first FAKE Christmas tree a few weeks ago. I swore I would never buy one, but when you aren't allowed to have a real one, there are exceptions to be made. It was only $35 from Walmart, 6.5' and pre-lit too!
Other than that, life is moving along. Work is still good. Mel's doing fine. I'm staying healthy. Waiting for our next set of directions. It's been almost six months, aren't we due for a move?! Ha! I hope not, but if past history is any indication, who knows!
Happy Turkey Day! (So I'm late, better late than never!)
Well, I don't know another outlet for this comment, so here it is.
Wikipedia is NOT a source for facts. Yes, there are many entries that have facts, but there is no moderation on the site. No administration to verify what is posted. People are invited to send information to the site. It is then assembled and posted, but NOT fact checked. Many universities do not even allow Wikipedia to be used as a source for papers/assignments since there is no assurance that the information gained from this site is accurate.
I have gotten several emails, from intelligent people, lately about a certain politician. At the bottom of the email it says that all of the "facts" came from Wikipedia. I urge everyone to use a filter when you are reading these emails or other stories during this election season. Be aware when it sounds like someone is trying to use stereotypes or pull at subconscious racist (including Middle Eastern racism!) tendencies.
Please pass this along. I think that too many people will just believe something because it is posted online. It is important that we make decisions in this election based on FACT, not suspicions.
Yes, I am a little Rainman-ish when it comes to the word "definitely." I call it on of my challenge words. I cannot spell it to save my life. So quite often when I am typing something online (without spell check) and I want to use this word, I have just pick a different word so as not to sound dumb by misspelling it. Finally got frustrated last night and made my self this sign. Hopefully I will be cured of this. (Just as my husband helped me to get over the fact that there are NOT two "m"s in "coming.")
Well, here we are on Tuesday. As promised, here is my picture of the day. A little blurry, but this is one of my favorite candles I got at the White Candle Barn last year. I bought this and four other large candles when I was out of town, forgetting that I had to lug them on the plane the next day!
As I was looking at the pics on my memory card, I realized that I have lots of projects that I haven't showed you yet. I'll get to that on Thursday, well maybe Friday. ;) Went to small group tonight. It was good, but really deep, theological stuff. Good to have some people to muddle through it with. Made these peanut butter cookies today for youth group tomorrow. They taste fine enough, but they don't look as nice and I didn't end up with as many cookies as I had hoped. Oh well, it's not their last meal. What else, hmmm...
When I have to ask that question it means one of two things: 1. I don't have anything to write about; or 2. I feel like I have too much to write about. Kinda the latter. I have missed blogging about certain events, which isn't really a big deal, but I like to have things "documented." My online scrapbook.
Goodnight!
