Claire's First Gingerbread House

This was Claire's first gingerbread house, she did the roof, tree, and around the doors and windows, didn't she do a great job!!

 

 

 

Final Goodbye

Today was my Mothers beautiful funeral service, she had touched so many lives. We are once again reminded of how precious our time here is, and what really matters.  I love you Mom and know you are having a joyous celebration in heaven.   Wendy

Good Bye Again.

 My Mom passed away yesterday morning, after 2 years of numerous hospital stays, surgery's, procedures. I know she is no longer suffering, and is rejoicing in heaven with my Dad and sister Marti, but I miss her....I miss them all.   Please keep our family in your prayers.   Wendy

A new tradition started

Last year I had invited family and friends over to learn how to make gingerbread houses, we had such a good time I decided to do it again this year.  I made my own pattern and some people brought kits and others used the houses I had baked. Everyone pitches in with the candy and any needed items to bake and frost. We always end up with a nice variety of candies and lots of laughs and fun.

Here's my sisters hard at work!

My niece Becky helping with frosting.

Here's pictures of the finished product, this is Nancy's

My sister Kathy's barn

                                                                      My sister Laurie's

Wendy's

This was my niece Becky's first time! didn't it turn out cute! Everyone had fun and can't wait until next year!!

A short update

As some of you know  my mom has been living with us for the past 2 years. During the last two months she has been in and out of the hospital and was recently in the ICU twice, she is now in the nursing home for rehabilitation. During this time I find it hard to keep up with my blogging but still check in to visit your blogs. Please keep my mom and our family in your prayers. Wendy

Wendys Whimsys 2

Stop by my new blog, Wendys Whimsys 2 You'll get to see some of the fun things we do as we go through the learning process!!  Stop by and visit!!   Wendy

Tissue paper, Paint, and Cards!

 

Fun little project that doesn't take a lot of time and helps with fine motor skills for Claire. I cut out small squares of tissue paper and had her crinkle them up and then she made lines for branches with black paint then glued the pink tissue blossoms onto branches!   Easy peasy!  After they dried she wrote inside.

I like to do card projects with Claire because it's fun and she gets to practice her writing!

Summers End and New Seasons

 This year summer was hard for me, the loss of my sister created a huge void and left an aching heart, yet I feel like I'm not ready to say goodbye to summer, there are so many things I love about it, I love sitting on my patio in the morning with a cup of coffee and taking in the sights, sounds, smells. The quietness, the simplicity, the beauty, thoughts of simpler days, summers playing jump rope and hide and seek, bike rides and fireflies, many years gone, yet so vivid. Holding on, letting go, all the while Fall is quietly stepping in, Oh how I love fall, yet this year it feels like I'm being forced to move on not yet ready to let go of the summer but needing the refreshing colors and sights of fall, a season I love most,  the soothing healing my heart so longs for, so I too step softly into a new season not only of fall but of life...
   Blessing to all of you.  Wendy

Taking a Break until September!

I'll be back in September. Until then enjoy the rest of your summer!   Wendy

Experiment a Success!!

I've been trying a bit of an experiment and to my utter excitement it worked and I'm thrilled!!

 

 I love working with all different materials and textures, sometimes they work and sometimes not but it's always a learning experience. I'm hoping to get going on some paper, I've got some dried flowers I want to use. Oh and my Pink Project is still a work in progress, I leave it on my craft table and look at it several times throughout the day to get ideas, it's coming along just have to rethink a couple ideas.  Have a Great Evening... Wendy

First Day Of School

We started our school year on Monday the 1st. This is Claire's 1st day picture!  She was so excited to start school again and has really stayed focused, she's growing in so many ways already this summer and is my little helper in the kitchen and really likes to help cook. She loves to get things out of the refrigerator and help set and clear the table.

We read some Haiku today out of a beautiful book I was given from my sister, and will see about writing some of our own.  We looked at trees, and the other typical school things. Actually I was ready to start again to.  Happy 4th to all!  Wendy

A LIttle Annoying!

Is anyone else getting all these adds when ever you go online? They always appear in the bottom right corner ???  This just started happening, does everyone else get these too?

Friends I made this past fall for Claires school!

While at my brother and sister in laws house last fall I worked on puppets for Claire for our travels around the world, she really enjoys interacting with the puppet of the month ( for whatever country we are studying.) This month starts our journey to Japan! will keep you posted on our adventures as I have a lot of things planned!

The countries I have represented so far are China, Japan, Ireland, Netherlands, Mexico, I had so much fun making them and  already have a couple ideas for a few more.  Each of the puppets is holding or wearing something to represent what we did or will do... Ireland we planted shamrocks, China, we made lanterns, Netherlands, we went to the Holland Michigan Tulip Festival, for Japan we will make a doll, and for Mexico we will learn the Mexican Hat dance! We also make a food, watch a movie, learn a song etc.  Can't wait to share our adventures with you!!!   Wendy

We forgot all about it!

My sister had given us a swallowtail caterpillar last fall, we fed it and watched it turn into a cocoon and then the trouble started, the cat kept knocking the container down, Claire got ahold of it a couple times and shook it around so at this point we are pretty sure it's dead and put it in the basement thinking we could look at it again when we are studying butterflies.  One day while Dan was in the basement he thought there was a toy butterfly on the floor and picked it up! to his surprise it was alive!! How it ever managed to live without the cat getting it is a mystery in itself!!  Isn't it beautiful!

Butterflies have a lot of meaning in our family so this was so special to me. Have a wonderful weekend!

First Postcard

I started a letter writing group a few months ago and lately have been thinking about starting it again, so I was trying to come up with some ideas and decided to try a fiber art post card.

This is my first attempt, I was pretty happy with it although I have to rethink the back as I don't like writing on the fabric.  In the picture you can't really see the orange tulle I used ( it's the long orange bare space.)  If any of you have made these and have a suggestion for the back I would love to hear what you used.   Wendy

 

Healing

This weekend I started a prayer garden  in memory of my sister, it felt good to dig in the soil and share once again in one of the many things we enjoyed together as sisters. Many prayers said as each plant was planted.  So numb but moving along. To all of you "Thank You" for your prayers and kindness during this time .  Wendy

Mourning

I will be absent for awhile as my Dear Sweet Sister passed away yesterday of a heart attack. Please keep my family in your prayers.  Wendy

Painting

 I finally bought the colors and started painting our living room and upstairs hallway, why is it I don't mind painting but I always forget how I Don't Like painting the ceiling!!!!  I paint my ceiling a white and it seems like it takes forever ( especially since we had to primer it first!)  I want to move to the walls and start adding the color!!!!...( Had to prime those too!)  So there you go I've donned my painting clothes , bandanna on my head, I'm off to finish the ceiling.  I hope tomorrow we can at least paint the ceiling instead of priming... Have a great week and I'll be back as soon as were done painting!  Wendy

A throw of the dice

This year Claire worked on number recognition and number value, in order to make it a little more fun for her and help her recognize numbers I started playing games with numbers in them, we've got quite the stash now... Trouble,  which was also great for strength and fine motor skills ( moving the piece around the board, and pushing the center to make the dice pop!) Hi Ho Cherry O, Fish bowl counting, Gems in a treasure chest, don't spill the beans, and a dice that is 12 sided.

We've had so much fun with these and not only does it help with numbers but she's learned turn taking and I always throw some speech in...like My turn....Your turn...what number is it, roll again, etc.  With Claire it's all about keeping it interesting, well I must admit it helps me too!





Hankie Curtains

I've been collecting hankies for a few years now, anytime I go to an estate sale I look for them, I've used a few in my crazy quilting projects and have had a few thoughts about how to use them but never did until yesterday....... I found some wonderful fabric a few weeks ago and wanted to use it in my kitchen for curtains.. well that was great and there is enough for one window but the problem is I have 2 window!!  What to do?????  Alas my hankie stash and a little browsing on the internet and

Tahdah!!!! My Hankie curtains!! This isn't the greatest picture but it really is light and airy looking and will be perfect for my country cottage effect I'm trying to create. I think I need to get a couple more hankies to add to it to make it a little fuller... So what do you think???

Oh pay no attention to plugs etc. we're in the process of remodeling the kitchen and will have a picture soon of a the room done!! Can't wait!

Snowball completed

 

This is a snowball I completed for a crazy quilting swap. I hope she likes .

It's official

As she watched across the way she saw him, sauntering across the street, she held her breath hoping beyond hope he had in his hands what she waited for!!!!!   Heart racing she runs out the door barefoot, and hair flying.... She approaches him and asks " what are you going to do with those?" he answers her with the words she waited for," throw them out"!!! YES !!! There hers, she takes them proudly knowing she has now become an official recycler!

Wait to see what they become!

Around the World to Ireland

Our country for March was Ireland. We really had fun again learning about another country and customs. I find if I find books, movies, etc. with other children in it she really pays attention.

 

We studied a little about sheep and found some fun books to read from the library, sheep in a jeep was her favorite! We looked at yarn ( I didn't have any real spun wool ). We watched a video about Ireland and played When Irish Eyes are Smiling on the auto harp ( she's learning to use the auto harp and really seems to like it.) I forgot to show the puppet I made for Ireland I'll have to show her in another post, she really enjoys the puppets! Next month were off to Japan! I can't wait! I think I learn as much as she does doing these studies. Oh I almost forgot! our food  for this one was Baked Potatoes!  Have a wonderful week!

Wendy

A Gift From My Dad

While cleaning out some things from her classroom my sister came across these number rods that my father had made.

My Father had such a kind spirit to those with special needs and I always wished he could have been here for Claire.  Each time we open this box I know that he is there cheering her on and nodding his head in approval to me, and that brings me great comfort. It reminds me that he is here and always will be in our hearts. Thank you Marti for a precious gift and Thank you Dad for caring enough to make it.  Wendy

Blueberry Tea and Stationery

Tonight was the first meeting of our letter writing group. My sisters and my mother attended. We sipped blueberry tea and wrote cards and letters. It turned out everyone had bought different cards and stationery, and without knowing, all of us had bought different postage stamps!

My sister Kathy brought fountain pens for each of us to use. I liked how it made my writing look while using it, so will definitely get one.  We'll meet twice a month and I'm hoping next month to make our own stationery!  We all had a few different ideas so it'll be fun to see how this progresses!
    Wendy

Stationary and Wax Seals

 

I miss writing letters.

As a young girl I loved going to the Ben Franklin's store here in town and would stand in the stationary aisle just mesmerized by all the beautiful and or cute stationary and there was always the matching envelopes! As I got older I would buy the wax sticks and seals, there was just something about sealing your envelope with the wax....feminine? vintage? kind of like the Jane Austen era, it made me wonder what kind of letters were being sent. While thinking of all of this I decided to start a letter writing group with my sisters and friends and I can't wait! I sent out invitations and ran and bought some pretty stationary and stamps. So now I anxiously wait for Sunday!    

Quiet Moments

Today my granddaughter learned that some of the best things aren't things!

She played for quite awhile discovering shadows and trying to catch sunbeams. I was reminded once again to slow down and enjoy what's been given to us if we only take the time to take notice. Have a wonderful day and play in the sunbeams!!   Wendy

Weekend Finds

This weekend I went with my sister to a couple thrift stores and found a really cute outfit and then we hit the Antique shop!  Oh I could have spent hours ( and dollars if I had it!!)  there! So here are a couple of finds

 

Today my husband and I went back and picked this up! he put it on the door for me ( sorry I forgot to correct the photo before I posted.) I have always liked glass door knobs and the table cloth reminded me of home, my Mom always had table cloths on the dinning room table, I love pink glass and McCalls  was  a magazine I couldn't wait for my Mom to get.   I hope you all had a nice and relaxing weekend doing what you love!!!  Wendy

A Little St. Patrick's Day Fun!

I had a family get together for St. Patrick's day this year, kind of a spur of the moment idea (which most of my ideas are!) but I think everyone enjoyed themselves. This is a cute picture of my Mom.

My sisters and I just having fun! My sister Kathy made her own hat for the occasion.

My sister Laurie and husband Ken,  he really got into the spirit of things and made his jacket and as always found the perfect festive tie. ( no holiday would be the same without Ken's ties!)

One cute little leprechaun don't you think?

And fun was had by all!!  Happy St. Patrick's Day to All!!!

 

I'm Whining!

Does anyone else have trouble with this time change or am I the only one? I really truly do not like getting up an hour earlier, and it seems by 3pm I'm ready to throw in the towel and curl up and go back to sleep. I know at some point I'll get used to it ( like 2 days before they change it back!) but for now I'm tired and want to whine...... 

Snowy learning

I couldn't believe it when I looked outside and saw the HUGE snowflakes! So Claire and I quickly donned our coats and boots ( oops forgot mittens!) grabbed a piece of black construction paper and fled to the front porch, if you've never done this before it really is amazing to look at the snowflakes on the black paper, I read about this years ago and did it with my other 2 ( now adults) children. You really can see them and it is truly amazing how each one is so different, so not only did we talk about things melting,freezing, we talked about God and this beautiful winter gift.... so grab some black paper and head outside, you wont be disappointed.  Have a Blessed Day!

Around the World

Today we finished our study of China. I think we both had fun learning about China and their customs and New Year celebration. To add to the fun and learning experience we made a  lantern and a dragon and Claire danced around the living room ! ( I think Raja was Very interested in the the dragon!) Claire especially liked the puppet that I made and listened closely as she read stories and talked about the globe.What a fun month and Happy New Year to All!!!

Wendy

Being Sick Does Strange Things

Last month I was sick for pretty much the whole month... in the mean time during one of my feverish moments I had a really beautiful... strange.... dream.. Beautiful that it was about my favorite color, strange that it was well......strange..... hallways full of everything shiny, and sparkly, and laces, and sequins and you name it hanging and it was Pretty ( if you like pink.)  so thus started my Pink Project, so I've been collecting, organizing, and drawing so I think I'm ready to begin... I'll keep you posted as I go.  ( unless it turns into a complete nightmare! )   Here's some of my gatherings..enjoy!

Sensory Bins

 

I used to make small shoebox size sensory bins but then I saw what some people were doing so I started creating bigger bins for Claire.   I think I have as much fun collecting things, making, and putting the whole bin together as Claire does playing with it! This is  a picture of our February Valentine bin. Claire really likes them and it helps her with fine motor skills, cause and affect, and just plain fun! I'm already collecting things for next months St.Patricks Day and green bin!

St. Lucy Day

This year we started a new tradition..celebrating St. Lucy Day on December 13th.  The night before we made wreaths out of paper plates and construction paper .Grandma and Aunt Marti made one too!  We also planted wheat that sprouts by Christmas and on Christmas Eve we put it next to our nativity to represent the bread of life.

  It's a tradition in Sweden that the oldest daughter carries a tray of coffee ( we omitted the coffee ) and  pastries called lussekatter to her parents before they arise in the morning.. so the night before we made cinnamon rolls ( thank you Pillsbury Rolls ) and frosted them and added maraschino cherries, in the morning I helped Claire put the tray together and she carried them to her dad...We all enjoyed and Claire was thrilled!! We will definitely be doing this again next year!

Happy Days!!!!

Well after much confusion and frustration I finally had my nephew come over and show me how to get my pictures to my computer and also to my emails and blog!!  So here I am and if you don't mind I'll be playing catch up from December. So I'm off to start my next blog With Pictures!!!! 
  So Glad to be back!! Wendy