Snowflakes...

"no two are the same"

Is what you always hear.

A while ago a friend had some pictures on her blog

this is one of them.

I have never seen anything quite like it!

They are beautiful!!

I thought that it just might be that

Denver just has prettier snow than here.

Well it has been

snowing/fluffing

the past couple of day's and I have had

the opportunity of going out and shoveling.

Yesterday when I was almost finished

you guessed it~it started to fluff again.

And this is what I noticed...

I think 100 of them would have fit on a penny...

side by side.

They were so tiny.

I thought it was interesting

that added up it looked like this...

The Business of Children Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

Have you ever watched a young child at play?
But is it really play?
What we call play can be serious business to a child.
Watch a child listening to the dial tone on a telephone
or touching the prickly ends of a fir tree or catching snowflakes in gloved hands.
These are simple things that we, as adults, take for granted.
But, to the child, the sound, the feel, the sight is pure delight.

We can dismiss the whole thing,
saying that to the child these things are new—
while we’ve heard the dial tone more times than we’ve wanted to,
we’ve encountered pricklier things like cacti,
and snowflakes melt so fast.
Why bother?
But is it really the newness that captures a child’s delight?
Or does the delight come because the child is paying attention?

Unfortunately, we may see something so often that we no longer see it at all. Yet, our connections with the people and things around us come by paying attention—close attention.

Smile and Remember;
We're fools whether we dance or not. So we might as well dance.

Re-cap

This year saw a lot happen...

Most of it I can't remember~

that's why I keep a journal.

Ok

That's why I

try

to keep a journal.

Honey and I went for a late Summer

 visit to Grand-children out of state

We brought 3 of them home with us

for a short stay

while Really busy Momma and Tall Daddy

went to the big city

to have our 8th Grand-son.

While more recently Hard working Dad

was hurt at work

in a gold mine.

(That's the nice way to say a cave).

He is recovering from a cracked spine.

Besides his 

state next door commute

he is also working on a degree

so he can get out of mining.

Illness's have been hitting pretty hard

this last month at family member's homes.

And so we have been

staying away

and

visiting.

Lest you think all is not well...

While lists were

compiled,

written,

and power pointed,

Santa has made all the necessary stops

and everyone was happy with their treasures.

Tiny Dancer was in awe over the whole experience

to the delight of her Mommy and Daddy

I was very happy to know

that the hats I knit and crocheted

for everyone

were well liked

(I know, because they have asked for more in different colors)

And...

now that Honey has a Mr. Heater

he has been able to spend lots of time in his garage,

I think if it had a cot or hammock

I might not see him some day's.

Next year...

I am planning to loose some weight.

A treadmill is helping me with that.

So

as

Mark Twain

says,

May the coming year find you

with the wind at your back

and the sun on your face.

Smile and Remember;

We're fools whether we dance or not. So we might as well dance.

Jack Frost

Jack Frost

By C.E. Pike

Look out! Look out!

Jack Frost is about!

He’s after our fingers and toes;

And all through the night,

The happy little sprite

Is working where nobody knows.

He’ll climb each tree,

So nimble is he,

His silvery powder he’ll shake.

To windows he’ll creep

And while we’re asleep

Such wonderful pictures he’ll make.

Across the grass

He’ll merrily pass,

And change all its greenness to white.

Then home he will go

And laugh ho, ho ho!

What fun I have had in the night.

The last couple of nights

fog

has set in around our town.

So Jack Frost has been busy with,

Horefrost

that's the white ice crystals, loosely deposited on the ground or exposed objects,

that form on cold clear nights when heat losses into the open skies

cause objects to become

colder than the surrounding air.

I just think it is beautiful.

Smile and Remember;

We're fools whether we dance of not, so we might as well dance.

Grandma Madsen's Sugar Cookies

Is what Busy Momma and Tiny Dancer

made for me on Saturday.

Grandma Madsen is...

not really my Grandma at all.

But that's what we all called her.

And her cookies are very good cookies!

Either with

 or

without

butter cream frosting and candy sprinkles.

I haven't made them for a long, long time,

 this time I made the dough

and they did the part I don't really like to do,

this time it was a lot more fun!

For me!!!

Tiny Dancer had a pretty good time too!!

I think even Busy Momma got some laughing in too!

Smile and Remember;

We're fools whether we dance of not, so we might as well dance.

Christmas Tree's and Memories...

In the evenings,

after most of the world is asleep,

except me.

I often find my thoughts turned back in time.

To the times my Daddy brought in

the biggest Christmas tree's

in the world!

And after he and Grampa built

a wooden stand.

With all of us kid's under foot.

We would have to wait for it to warm up-

Then...

We kids would go to decorating-

The Christmas boxes were

amazing!

And were re-discovered every year.

We used really old "depression" orniments,

Colored lights that blinked.

The part I always' liked best was

when we would stand back and

throw "ice cicles" at the tree.

It started out a little piece at a time

but alway's ended up being a big ol clump

tossed as high as we could-

laughing all the time.

Mom would come make us do a little better job,

then we would vacuume up the stray pine needles,

and she would bring an old sheet to be wrapped around the bottom.

One of my brothers,

One of my sister's

and I

would spend a lot of time

laying on the floor with all the lights out,

except the tree lights,

and watch the colors on the celing.

It was a peaceful, happy thing.

This is the Christmas tree that was in the back yard.

Those Christmas tree's of yesteryear

have been fondly remembered,

and will be for a long,

long time.

Smile and Remember;
We're fools whether we dance of not, so we might as well dance.

Raggedy Ann

Raggedy Ann and Andy

have been favorites of many little girls.

I had a Raggedy Ann that I played with a lot!

My Niece T.'s mom made her a 36 inch Raggedy

when she was little and she said she loved it!

She would dance with her and wear her clothes...

One day wilst etsy window shopping I came across

a most wonderful little shop selling...

you guessed it-

Raggedy Ann and Andy doll patterns!

So I bought some...

And look how fun this one turned out!!!

She was spotted by Tiny Dancer

just before her second piggy tail was finished...

She has been pre-approved!

Twirled, piggy backed,

bear hugged, kissed,

and even watched a movie.

After Tiny Dancer took a nap

Raggedy Ann went back to the hair salon

on the kitchen counter for her finishing touches.

She is waiting for Christmas Day to come to stay.

When I was little my Mom and Dad made me a doll cradle.

Honey re-produced two of them this past Summer.

(One for our house and one for her house)

Mine had a mattress and pillow

as well as this little quilt...

Yep-you guessed it!

I went to work and got the mattress and pillow made...

And then the local Village Dry Goods had a

fat quarter sale...

I picked up lots.

And these were perfect for a certain red doll.

My corners sort of lined up really good.

Except were they didn't...

I even tried out a fancy stitch for the first time.

I've only had my machine since the early 1970's

I guess I didn't want to rush into anything...

But I am pretty happy with the results.

Between his puttering's, Honey is working on

my 'new, old' doll stuff in the garage.

I picked up a vintage

drop side doll crib

at a garage sale a couple of Summers ago

that needs some TLC.

He has started working on it for me.

So Tiny Dancer and I can play.

I guess I'd best get ta crackin' on a

Raggedy Ann of my own!

Smile and Remember;

We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.

p.s. If you are interested in how I did the Santa pillow leave me a message or email me.

Look they like them!!!

I have mentioned that I started to knit and crochet for Christmas

in June this year.

I made hats.

I like all the hats I've made-

that is not a usual thing

for me to like the things I've made

at the time I've made them.

Sometimes you make something and you'd rather not tell anyone about it-

but not so with these.

And the most important thing about them is this:

They like them!

I made different ones for the boys,

the girls & Mom's,

the Dad's...

I have personal and photographic evidence of them being liked!

That makes me happy

very happy.

It makes them warm...silly...

and happy.

Did I mention that the littlest guy in this picture

looks so much like his Daddy

 I had to look twice-three times!

And speaking of Daddy-

He liked his hat too.

He said that it has been record breaking cold

in his neck of the woods.

He said he likes his hat a lot!

And while the hats were made for Christmas,

I gave them to most everybody early...

Because...

well...

#1- I have a hard time keeping a secret.

#2- It is record breaking cold out there.

And

#3- A wrapped hat just can't keep your ears warm.

I rest my case.

Smile and Remember;

We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.

Photo Editing & Bokeh...

Bokeh is pronounced bow-kay or bow-keh,

it refers to the wonderful out-of-focus lights,

shapes and colors you find in the background of

many photos taken with a digital camera.

It is a Japanese word...

I have had a lot of fun playing with bokeh

(both saying it and trying to do it right)

since I first saw Miz Booshay's post on PW

way back when I was first starting out and

realized I want to grow up to be a famous photographer.

In my last post I showed you some pictures

I had been playing with

and told you I would show you some

before and after's and

the effects you get with editing...

I was trying to get the lights/bokeh

but didn't really have anything

to take pictures of

so I improvised...

Much better I am thinking.

This one had good bokeh

but the icky plant needed to go...

And is that...a...a...spider hanging there?!

Whewh...just a piece of cotton fluff.

This is much better I think...



Don't even ask me what I was thinking when I took this picture

I have no idea myself...


But with the beauty of great editing programs

viola!!!

I take pictures everyday

I see pictures everywhere

I love the way the world looks to me

now that I've seen it

through my camera's lenses.

Smile and Remember;
We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.

This Week...

With the weather turning cold and his drive to be outside

Honey has been out in his garage.

He is getting things done that he has been very excited about!

Brother Ed and Nephew Casey

stopped on the way in from the airport to help

put some sheeting on the ceiling

then Honey spent every free minute...

ok

hours...

out 'puttering'

And this is what he's been doing~

He also hung a very long shelf

and will soon be moving some stuff

from the 'my garage' to 'his garage'.

His dream is becoming reality

and I am so happy for him!!!

***

I got finished with Christmas projects during the past week

and so I took the opportunity to surf etsy

and I found this place

http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamachee

I have made myself these two pair of slippers

THAT I LOVE!

The first pair I followed the directions...

The second pair I added a second bottom

so they are a little more

cushy to walk on...

The pattern came fast!

They worked up fast!

I use them a lot!

They keep my tootsies toasty!

Next I thought I'd play with some picture taking...

What I was trying to do is...

to get the lights on the Christmas tree to look

...well like light dots

It has a name,

but I can't remember it...

I followed the Pioneer Woman instructions...

and look how fun!

Fake poinsettias with red bokah...

I can almost hear

my Mom cussing me

for not getting REAL flowers...

but they are serving their purpose.

So to quiet Mom's voice in my head I went to a live plant~

Didn't the lights turn out cool!?

When I edit this one it will look really neat!
Next post I'll show you what I mean
It might surprise you how editing can change
a hum-drum picture
to a Wow picture...
I hope :)


Smile and Remember;
We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.