2010 coming to an end

Well it's New Years Eve already. Seems like this year has flown by. We are ending this year with a warm trend. It was 50 outside today. It rained/thunderstorm most of the morning and I was woken this morning by thunder. But with all this warm weather in the last couple of days it has melted most of the snow in the yard except for the piles. We had a major snow storm on Dec 14 and I posted some pictures of my driveway and vehicle. Here is what it looked like this afternoon. According to the weatherman it is suppose to turn cold over the weekend, so I am sure with all the rain and the melting snow it will be slippery.

I have many things to ponder, be grateful for, will miss and some that I will not miss at all. I have learned many things this past year. Some out of necessity and some just out of trying. I look forward to the new year and am excited as to what it may bring.

I am bringing in the new year with my daughter Amanda, her boyfriend Ed and my great granddaughter Randi. I am going to fix supper for all of us tonight. Making meat loaf, baked potatoes and a mixed vegetable casserole. We have cake for dessert and then shrimp for the midnight celebration. We are creatures of habit. This is something we eat pretty much every new years eve. We lead such an exciting life...NOT. But honestly I don't mind, I love spending time with family.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year. That this new year brings all your wants and dreams to light.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Attitude of Gratitude

This wonderful holiday season and being able
to spend it with my family and friends

The family getting together to share a meal,
talking, catching up and playing a game together

Watching the little ones opening their
presents and being so happy
because "that's just what I wanted"

That we didn't get the next wave of
lake effect snow that was
suppose to come on Christmas Day

I hope everyone had a wonderful and joyous Christmas
I know I am looking forward to the new year ahead to see what it brings. I know that in March there will be a new addition to my family. I am looking forward to meeting my new grandson Noah. To watch my son Bryce become a father for the 1st time and even now watching his face light up when he touches Kristal's stomach or when he talks about Noah. I am grateful for the many blessings I have. Yes at times I want to scream, shut myself off or even just go away from family because although I love them with all my heart they sure can bring the drama at times. But they are mine and I wouldn't trade any of them for anything in the world. I am truly BLESSED!

Attitude of Gratitude

Making it through this latest winter storm
without any ill effects

My son and my granddaughters boyfriend
shoveling my driveway since I
am not able to do it

Being able to go to church this morning and
feel the warmth and spirit from the
message, many friends there
and seeing all the new babies
there for the 1st time

Spending time with family and friends
this holiday season.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and Merry Christmas. May the Lord bless each and everyone of you and keep you safe.

Randi is walking

My great granddaughter Randi is now walking. She is walking more then she is crawling now. It is so cute and adorable seeing those little legs move. She even tries to run but hasn't quite got that. She loves to pick up things and carry them with her when she is walking. She thinks she is pretty cool now that she can reach things that were once out of her reach. Now the fun begins.

Winter Storm 2010

The midwest got a major snowstorm over the past couple of days. It just kept coming and coming down with no end in sight. Here are just a few pictures of what I had to contend with when it was all over from a 2 day period of it snowing. I think all total we had 26 inches.


LaPorte, IN even made the news on Yahoo. Boy was I surprised when I got on the internet to check my email and there in big bold letters was a story about my hometown and how much snow we got and how people were stranded.
My son and granddaughters boyfriend came and shoveled me out, or at least enough to get me out if I needed to. I didn't go anywhere over these past couple of days. I really hate driving in the snow and always have. You would think I would be used to it since I have lived in this area all my life. But alas I don't think I will ever get used to it.
You can barely see my garbage cans by my back door. But of course I couldn't really open my door anyway because the snow was blocking it. I think I will forgo taking my garbage out this week because I don't think I can get the cans out anyway.On a lighter note and a delightful one, the above picture is of my great granddaughter Randi. She loves taking a bath and is so fascinated by bubbles. She is such a happy baby and it shows. She has my heart that is for sure.

I hope everyone stays warm and safe. I hope everyone remembers all their blessings they have especially in this holiday season.

Attitude of Gratitude

I have many things to be grateful for and sometimes
they may be hard to see but doesn't change
the fact that they are there.
Sometimes we just have to sit back
and let the spirit guide us.

A few of the things this past week that I have
been grateful for...

A warm and cozy home with which to be in
when there are so many others that don't

The ability to read what I want
when I want without any
persecution

The many great friends I have that think of
me and are there if and when
I need them no matter what
time of day it is.

The ability to learn new things

I hope you all have a wonderful day and to take the time to stop
and "smell the roses" as the old saying goes. You never
know when an opportunity will come knocking and
you need to be open to hear it.

How to make a 3D snowflake

You can use any type of paper you wish. I have used printer paper, stationary, construction paper and even wrapping paper. You can use anything you can cut and fold . You first start out by cutting paper into a square, then with a square piece of paper fold in half then fold in half again. You will need 6 squares to make one snowflake.

With the open folded edge on bottom hold closed folded side at point and make cuts up to an imaginary line approx 1/4 in from edge. Make sure to not cut completely to edge. If you are using a full sheet (8 1/2 x 11) you can make 3-4 cuts depending how much detail you want. If you use any smaller sheets then 3 cuts are the best to do as you don't want the slits to be to small as it will make the snowflake flimsy. I have also made the cuts using my craft scissors. This will give your snowflake many different designs.
After you have made your cuts then open up your square and fold the middle into a tube and tape together. Then turn over square and take next set of cut pieces and fold together and tape, turn over again and repeat till all the pieces are taped together.
This is what your piece should look like when all the pieces are taped together. Repeat will all 6 squares.
Making sure that all the middle tubes are going in same direction, take 3 of the pieces and staple together on one end. Then tape the pieces together on the outside strips of each piece as seen below.
Close up of how I tape pieces together.
Close up of how I staple ends together. Repeat with the other 3 pieces of paper in same manner as 1st 3.
Staple the 2 bunches together making sure the tubes in middle are still going in the same direction as shown above.
This is your end result.It looks like there is a big gap in the middle but there isn't. It's just the way I photographed it. I should have turned it the other way but didn't notice it till after I posted this. I usually put a few pieces of tape folded over a point from where I will be hanging these with some thread. That way the paper doesn't rip and it just gives it a little more reinforcement.

I hope this is an easy to follow directions to make these snowflakes. I did try and video myself making these but I just couldn't get it right. Here is a website that I did find today that shows someone making the snowflakes and another one showing steps. It is a little different in the way they cut the slits and how they hook it all together but you will get the idea. I only use the stapler to hook the groups together as I don't want all those staples showing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ausJdGcgs0k
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-3D-Paper-Snowflake

Enjoy and have fun. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to message me and I will do what I can to help. This craft is an easy one for kids of all ages to make. Use your imagination and have FUN.