:( Sad Face :( No internet for a while :(

I haven't had internet for several weeks now and won't for several more.  Boo-Hoo!  What did we ever do before we had internet???  I feel like I'm on a deserted island!

Getting Creative on a Budget

Jace got invited to a little girl at schools birthday party this weekend.

So, I got busy sewing.

 I made her a tic-tac-toe fabric board and felt X & O pieces

 a lined bag to put the game & pieces in

 and a fleece boa style scarf and two hair pom-poms for her ponytail.

 I bought 1 yard of fleece and was able to get 2 scarves

(one for a child and one for a toddler)

8 larger hair pompoms

&

8 medium hair pompoms.

Not to bad for a piece of fabric that cost me $4.54!

I also made some things for a Peppermint Pixie swap I was in.



 I had the doll pieces already and I just added pipe cleaners for the body,

a felt dress, a crocheted shawl with a matching hat and

I crocheted the legs and added little pompoms for shoes.

I also added little candycanes for the pixies wings.

Not to bad for things I had on hand.

Then I made a mitten ornament out of felt and added a plastic candy cane.

I also made a candy cane matchbox ornament

and some goodies for the inside that I had on hand.

I painted some clothespins & homemade peppermint bark.

I've been trying to become more frugal and creative at the same time.

I think I did pretty good!

Feeling the Need to Swap this Year?

Val from YarniGras is hosting a Year of Enchantment Swap for the 3rd year. 

If you'd like to join our group go to her swapping blog and check it out. 

Family Time at Jace's School

Yesterday we went to Jace's classroom for 15 minutes of Family Time.

The kids asked questions and we showed them

pictures of our family.

Mallory and I made this mitten garland as a gift for the class.

the pictures aren't to whoopy but there are mittens,

 beads, felt circles and snowballs that spell out winter.

We also made some mini pumpkin muffins for the class,

but they had to wait until snack time to eat them :(

Mallory and Ezie were counting on having one!

Oh well, I made some for them for after school :)

Thanks Jace for bringing us to school to share things about our family!

Whoa! Slow Down!

Whoa! 

Stop the Clock!

photo from coloribus.com

 I need some more time before Christmas to finish all of my projects.

  So let's just stop the clock and give me an extra day or two

 so I can finish without being totally stressed. 

Sound good to you?

Now to get busy!

Pretty Prim Dresses

Since my girls don't wear dresses anymore

and these are really easy

I made some

dresses to hang in a room or use as an ornament.

They are about 6 or so inches tall.

This dress I crocheted a color and cuffs onto the dress and then crocheted a little hand muff. 

 It has beads for buttons and the hanger is a cinnamon stick with a piece of jute tied to it.

I also grunged the dress with a mixture of coffee and spices.

I think it's so cute and it smells yummy too!

This dress a gathered the ends of the sleeves, crocheted a collar and grunged it.

Simple but sweet!

On this dress I added some lace and a ribbon and grunged her up good.

I have some more I made that I added bloomers to.

I had fun making these.

I could just be creative and have fun with them.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my little grungy prim dresses!

I Look Mad Cool Today!

"I Look MAD Cool today!"

That's what my Jace said after we fixed his hair.

He's been practicing with water on getting this look

and so this morning we put gel in it and I helped him spike it

and now he looks mad cool!

He also has his KU Sweatshirt,

his favorite jeans and shoes on so that really made the look.

I love having such a happy guy!

of course....

I don't think he was looking mad cool for me,

but for

his love.....

Angelina.

Oh boy,

I'm not ready for this yet!!

Slow down Jace!

My Movie Review....a little outdated!

Last night I half heartily started watching the movie Julie & Julia.  I really didn't think I'd like it....why you might ask...I don't know, I just didn't.

I LOVED the movie.  It was so inspirational, heart warming and even educational. 

 I could so relate with Julie

and learned a lot about Julia Childs. 

Loved, loved, loved it!!

I feel so inspired today!!

******************************************************

I also watched Seven Pounds with Will Smith.

I thought it would be good with Will Smith in it.....

and then it started.

I was kinda confused and glad I didn't save the movie to watch with the kids

But then,

OMG!  It was so good!!

Once I got into it and understood what was going on

I LOVED it!

So much emotion and love.

I couldn't even imagine what I would do if I was in the same situation as Tim was in the movie.  I have thought about that many times and I think I would just curl up and die.  Such a good movie!

*********************************************************

I've been dying to read a Harlan Coben or Kevin O'Brien book,

but we're without a car again and I can't get to the library.

Hopefully, we'll get it back soon

until then

I hope there are some more decent movies on tv!!

A New Craft Room?? I Think So!

I've never been in the attic of the house we live in now. 

I know it has some leaks and a broken window and

I've never really had much of a desire to look up there.

BUT,

I finally went up to take a peak

and I discovered my new craft room!

It's definitely going to take a lot of work!



I think my sewing machine would fit great right under these two windows



The ceiling is only about 5 feet in the middle

which is perfect for me!

I have both sides of the attic to put my tubs and bins

full of crafty stuff. 

I can't wait to get started.

Since we rent and we're broke it's not going to be the nicest makeover

but, I think I can make it quite doable

with lots of elbow grease and lots of love!

I'm so excited to get started....

and to get my craft stuff all in one spot and not

in the living room, dining room, hallways, closets and any other place I can find in the house to stash it!

Look Hoots Wearing the New Hat I Made

I made this Owl hat yesterday

 from a pattern I purchased from http://www.crazysockscrochet.com/

and I think Ezie looks pretty darn cute in it!

Zombie Doll Swap

Val from Yarni Gras had a Zombie Doll Swap that I joined. 

It was so much fun and got me started on a doll kick again.

My partner was Susan from Shabby and Frills and this is her very first doll.

Can you believe it?!?!?

I think she did such a fantastic job and this doll!

Here is the rest of the goodies that she sent me. 

 Candy, a pumpkin scrubbie, 2 Halloween dishcloths, tissues,

a mummy ornament and a wooden pumpkin container. 

I made out great!!

Here's what I sent to Susan.

A Zombie trick or treater

 and when you remove the costume there is an Annie Doll.

I also made a banner out of a quilt block



and then made her a twashi, a matchbox ornament,

and a little bag to put it all in.

Thanks Val for hosting the swap and

Thank you Susan for a wonderful time swapping

 and I LOVE my doll you sent!

I Have to Get My Brag On!

My brother Danny,

Officially,

Daniel J. Wescott, PhD.

Associate Professor

Director, Forensic Anthropology Center

Department of Anthropology

Texas State University

Danny became the Director of the Forensic Anthropology Center

 at Texas State University at the beginning of this school year.

I am so proud of him!

Congratulations Danny on your new job!

This is a cast iron coffin that was found in Missouri.

Danny is a practicing Forensic Anthropologist, a researcher, teacher, etc.....

he also runs a "body farm"

"The Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF) is a 26-acre outdoor human decomposition research laboratory at Texas State’s Freeman Ranch. The FARF serves as a resource for forensic anthropology students, as well as state and national law enforcement agencies. Research into questions relating to time since death, the postmortem interval and decomposition rates for human remains under various topographical and climate conditions are conducted at FARF. Freeman Ranch also houses the associated on-site FARF laboratory that includes a decomposition processing suite, cold storage facilities, and teaching and conference rooms."    http://www.txstate.edu/anthropology/facts/

So if you want to donate your body to science, now you'll know who to call!

I can't even to begin to understand all of the things that he does

all I know is he is really smart, good at what he does,

and my favorite little brother!

We're all so proud of you Danny!!

Here are some links for some of the recent media regarding Danny, the "body farm" and Texas State University

http://haysfreepress.com/archives/24774

http://smmercury.com/47938/grant-to-help-develop-method-for-determining-skeletal-age-at-death/

 http://txstate.academia.edu/DanielWescott

http://www.txstate.edu/anthropology/facts/



My 50th Birthday in Maine

I turned 50 last month, but my family celebrated with me in July.  My mom and 5 siblings and I all met in Kennebunkport, Maine for 3 of the most wonderful and relaxing days of my life!

I couldn't have asked for a better group to celebrate with and I've never been to the ocean before so that was a double win for me. 

I could really live near the ocean. 

The sun...the water

It is so beautiful!

 This is me, my sister Stacey, my brother Mike, my sister Robyn, my Momma

my sister Cathy and my brother Danny.

 Stacey found a bottle of wine when she went to Australia called "Four Sisters" wine so she bought it and brought it along for the celebration.

 Mike and me at the beach.  I haven't worn a swimming suit in over 15 years.  It felt so nice to be out in the sun and of course I had to buy a yellow bucket so I could play on the beach and collect sea shells.

We drank wine in the evenings, played games and drank more wine. 

We had so much fun playing the games and talking. 

 I guess I talk to much when I drink and keep everyone up all night.

  My bad! 

 I got a little sunburned....to put it mildly. 

My poor boobies hurt for a week!

 We got silly in the gift shop. 

 I found some party sunglasses and a birthday party hat.

and I LOVED the morning walks on the beach.

I had such a wonderful time

and can't wait for my brother Danny to turn 50

so me, mom and my sibling can all get together again

 and see what adventure we go on!

Silly Boys!

I was trying to get a nice picture of my grandson, Anthony and my Jace.

This is what I got.....

NICE GUYS!

Silly Boys!

Thanks for making me smile Anthony and Jace!

Who's Ready for the Most Colorful Season Yet?

Dancing with the Stars is calling this the most Colorful Season Yet. 
Who's excited? 
Who's going to be watching this season?
 Do you have a favorite already? 
Are you and your family going to boycott the show because of Chaz Bono being one of the "stars"?
 I have been hearing so much controversy over Chaz being on the show.
 So.....I'm going to tell you what I think.

photo taken from http://abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/cast-announcement

I have watched Dancing with the Stars almost every season.  I've missed a couple of seasons...I missed last season because it was on during my dads death and with traveling and stuff I just ended up missing it.  Anyway, I love to watch the show and Earl and the kids enjoy it too. 

 I would give anything to be able to dance! 

Every year I have my favorites and then there are a few people that I don't particularly care for. 
I didn't care for Heather Mills, Kate Gosselin,
Pamela Anderson, Joanna Krupa, Jennifer Grey,
just to name a few.
 I've had my favorites like Kelly Osbourne,
Gilles Marini (oo la la),
Drew Lachey, Laila Ali,  Mark Dacascos, Mya,
 Cloris Leachman and so on and so on.

I am always surprised at how my perception of some of the "stars" are
 from maybe what I thought they'd be like.
 I start watching the show with an opened mind and if I do vote,
I try to base my vote on the dancing,
 because after all it is suppose to be a dancing competition,
not a popularity contest.


As far as Chaz Bono dancing...

SO WHAT!

 No, I don't think my children will want to change their gender from watching the show.
 
Actually,
 my kids won't even know anything about Chaz's
 gender change unless I tell them.
 Chaz is not going on Dancing with the Stars
to promote gender change. 

Chaz is going on the show to dance.

*** 

What about when Joanna Krupa was on the show?
 Did she promote posing nude for magazines?

Did your kids become "Jack-ass's" from watching Steve-O?

A computer genius from watching Steve Wozniak?

***

My kids didn't,
and I doubt if yours did either!
 I don't think that they will want to change their
gender because Chaz is on the show.

and
even if my kids did

they are my kids
and I will love them
no matter what!

I love color!
I love diversity!
I love to explore different cultures!
After all, differences in people are what makes the world an interesting place!

So my family will be sitting down together tonight and watching Dancing with the Stars with an opened mind.  I am really excited to see Nancy Grace, Ricki Lake, Carson Kressley,
David Arquette and Chaz Bono.


Yes,
a very diverse
and colorful
group of people.....

just the way I like it!


Good Luck to all of the dancers!

So Much Racism in 2011? Really?

     I've been doing a lot of thinking lately.  I actually do think quite a bit, but I tend not to share my thoughts.   I thought I would say what's on my mind and voice my opinion on racism. 

photo from http://lawbusinessrevolution.com/blog/2010/03/05/what-drives-you/

    

     I think of myself as a sometimes naive, a very trusting and easy going person.  I try to see the world in color and not just black and white.  This is not to say that I don't make instant judgements or assume the worst in people sometimes, but I honestly try not to.  I go by the theory of "treat others the way I want to be treated."  I believe that we all have the right to be individuals and to have our own opinions. 

     I also am not saying that I don't stear towards people that are like me.  I think that is normal, but it doesn't mean that I am not open and willing to make friends with people from the "other" group.  It reminds me of high school.  In our school we had the Socials, the Blacks, the Freaks, the Nerds, the Jocks, etc..... and everyone was suppose to be hang out with people from "their" group.  I liked some people from the other groups, but it is hard to "go to the other side" sometimes.  Peer pressure....that is a whole different subject.

     Back to the subject of Racism though.  I was brought up to believe that all colors of people are equal.  I was brought up that no race is dominant over another and that all people are just that, PEOPLE.  Skin color should not be what determines a persons character.

photo is from http://www.theupbeatdad.com/2011/07/pride-and-prejudice-teaching-your-kids.html

     I am also not saying that I like all people.  I think that there are bad white people, bad black people, bad people of every race, BUT, I also think in those same groups there are so many good people. 

     There are several reasons that I started really thinking about racism, but I'll share the incident that Earl had at work the other day. 
            A couple at Earl's work were talking about how a black family moved into the house next to them.  "The black family is renting and are probably on welfare" (the rent is $1,700.00 a month....welfare.... I don't think so!)  This couple talked about sabotaging the other family to get them evicted and of course how could the landlord do this to them....rent to a black family!  A third person jumps into the conversation and says how he calls black people "Monday's" because everyone hates Monday's.  There was more said, but you get the gist of it.

     I really don't understand their attitude and especially in this day and age.  I really thought that society had come further than this.  A family is being judged soley on the color of their skin.  Earl's co-workers refuse to get to know their new neighbors and they are already filled with hate for them.  Why are they not giving this family a chance?  Maybe they aren't nice people, but chances are, they are nice and will make wonderful neighbors.  Chances are they are just another family that wants to enjoy their new home and live a happy and productive life. 

     Maybe I live in a bubble and just refuse to see all the negativity in the world.  I am just shocked and really REPULSED that racism is so alive in this day and age.  Black, Asian, European, Spanish, Indian, Arabic, etc, etc......we are all people.  People with their own unique cultures and colors, but still, we are all people, and deserve to be treated as such.  I think that we are all trying to achieve the same goal, to make it through life being happy, loved and accepted and to see our children grow up to happy and healthy.

photo is from http://www.theupbeatdad.com/2011/07/pride-and-prejudice-teaching-your-kids.html

   
      I also believe that racism is one of the most damaging and unfair things that parents can teach their children.  The Upbeat Dad explains this well "One of my strongest beliefs is that no child leaves the womb with any level of prejudice towards anyone. Babies are born innocent and come into a world with all kinds of divisions – ethnic, religious, political, economic and the list goes on. But babies are as innocent as they could be."
  
  "As these babies become toddlers and then pass through the different phases of development, they learn about the world that they live in. It’s a scientific fact that 90% of brain development occurs during the first three years of life."

     "Here’s an approach: be proactive in addressing these topics to children from the earliest stages of their lives. Teach them to love and honor themselves because they are truly wonderful and special. At the same time, teach them to love, honor and respect others – whether they look like them or not."

photo from tcsidewalks.blogspot.com and edited by me
    

     Actually living in a bubble is sometimes kinda nice....I get to see the beautiful opalescent colors reflecting in my bubble.  Another thing, I like Monday's.  Monday's are a new beginning, a chance to go out into the world and experience life.  I also am so grateful that my parents taught me to have an opened mind and see the world as a colorful, diverse place where we are all created equal.

     “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” 
                                                                                                             Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Girl Can Loose Her Freedom, But Not Her Will to Be Creative!

Flipping through the channels one day I started watching MSNBC's Lockup.  I was really impressed by one of the inmates, Krystal O'Reilly.  Krystal's attitude and sincerity really impressed me and then I realized that she is very creative too. 

Krystal was making cards and stationary out of homemade crayons.  Her crayons were old magazines or newspapers, deodarant and tampons.  Krystal would rub the tampon on the deodarant and then onto a magazine or newspaper and the tampon would pick up the ink.  The she used a stencil she made and rubbed the edges with her "crayon" making pretty shapes on her letters to her son and mom.  (Krystal making her cards is at the 2:00 minute mark in the video)

I was so impressed with how creative she was and thought to myself, "Man, I think if I was in jail this would be me."  I hope I would be so creative anyway!

Thank you Krystal for sharing your story with the world and I wish you, your son and your mom the best of luck and that you have a happy life.

No More Babies at Home :(

Jace has slept with me and Earl since he was born. 

The last 2 nights though he has decided to sleep in his own room. 

 It was nice to have the extra room in bed,

 but I sure did miss snuggling up next to him.

Remember Mom, he's a big boy now. 

Jace woke up and immediately got dressed. 

 He brushed his teeth and came down ready to go to school. 

We got Ezie and Mallory off and then the wait began.

An hour and 10 minutes of waiting

...........

and waiting

...........

and waiting

Finally,

it's time to go sit on the porch and wait for the bus.

 and wait

.........

and wait

.........

but with a big smile on his face.

and then my baby was gone.

Hardly even a "bye mom"

gone just like that.



Jace should be home in 30 minutes

and we're all so excited to get him off the bus

and see how his first full day of school was.

I hope it was magical

but,

I bet I have a tired little guy tonight!

I sure did miss my Jace today!

The First Day of School for My Kiddo's

Today was the kids first day of school.  Ezie is in 7th grade,

Mallory started middle school and is in 6th grade

 and my baby, Jace started Kindergarten.

The annual shoes first day of school new shoes pic.

I am very proud of my kids because they settle for very inexpensive shoes this year

and Jace was content with a pair of new to me shoes.
(Thanks Levi & Leo!)

 Since Earl had lost his job the money just wasn't there for name brand shoes

and the kids did great about not complaining.

Thanks guys!!



Daddy getting Ezie and Mallory on the bus.

and finally Daddy and Jace walking into school.

Jace only had a 30 minute orientation today

and he can't wait until tomorrow

when he has a full day and gets to eat lunch at school and ride the bus.



The kids all had a great day!

Tomorrow will be my first day without having anyone at home :(

Jace told me not to worry that our dog Charlie

would be home to take care of me and snuggle with me at nap time

oh, and he also told me that I could play his computer games.