goodbye 2010!

Oh what a year it was... geez.

You threw quite a lot at me, 2010. Definitely full of surprises.

In keeping with a popular New Year's tradition, I will make a short list of my big happenings of 2010:

1. moving across the country - there is nothing easy about relocating your life, but if you are open to it there is always something exciting about it.

2. back surgery - or as I like to refer to it, my spinal tune-up

3. heart surgery/ER trip - my heart was stopped 4 times in 2010. Here's to hoping I don't break that record in 2011 ; )

4. my CASA experience - similar to parenting, working with foster kids and their families was one of the hardest experiences I have ever loved.

5. my child turning 7 - every year seems to bring another birthday for Evan... would be nice to skip it once every other year or so... pretty please.

6. Rosie joining our family - 2010 was the year of Rosie

So now that I have made a 2010 year in review list, I guess 2011 is free to begin ; )

bring it on!

quick bits

Camping In

Evan & I (and Rosie) camped out in the den last night.

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'Cuz you should never take yourself too seriously
saw this on a car in the Wal-Mart parking lot yesterday
I so want to meet these people ; )

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Philadelphia Freedom

Evan & I are visiting the City of Brotherly Love today.

So much to see and do...

random Christmas Day pics

my latest happy socks!

showing off one of each of my two pairs - Dorothy's rubby slippers & converse sneakers

Both are Christmas presents from my folks. One more happy pair is one it's way. Yippee!

outgunned!
3 armchair hunters?
my new Wii reality
oh joy : /

Christmas in Pictures - part 2

No turkey was harmed in the making of our Christmas lunch this year. Evan asked for pancakes. It was a fun change of pace.

Evan made a very special hardcover Christmas book at school and surprised us with it this morning. Yes, Scot knows his towel is upside down.

Steeler Fans, please send all complaints directly to him ; ) guitar, drums, and amplifier

Evan is having a rockin' Christmas thanks to his MeMaw & PaPa.

Christmas in Pictures - part 1

Let's hit the slopes!

Evan wasn't excepting a sled from Santa. (One of three gifts from S.C. this year.)

post present opening

The tree looks lonely.

Sooner Pride Christmas

We all stocked up on OU gear.

'Twas the night before Christmas

Christmas Eve traditions
2010

3 more little things that make me happy for no apparent reason

1. finding inspiration in unexpected places when I need it most

2. soft, colorful scarves - I'm all about scarves right now. Never had much of a need for them before now. A fun scarf can not only perk up a dull outfit, but sometimes even a dull day.

3. ice cream in the winter - for some unknown reason I crave ice cream way more during cold months. And all of the ice cream shops up here are closed for the season : /

What is up with that? We need a Braums!

tidbits & happenings

Around the World without Leaving Your Living Room? Evan has been enthralled with Google Earth's airplane mode. He has explored all around planet Earth.

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Recliner Ninja
Markas is on vacation this week. He has assumed his preferred vacation station.
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Be Yourself
I have this fun little wooden sign on my dresser (next to my longtime friend, Brusselsprouts).
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So Sweet
Sweet boy with his sweet creation. He made this version of a gingerbread house (actually made of graham crackers) at school. He put a lot of thought into and made it very detailed. I love those marshmallow snowmen : )
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Coldburn
I'm feeling the burn. Nope, not a sunburn, but a coldburn. In just minutes the Arctic air can make exposed cheeks and lips red and sore... a lasting condition similar to the feeling of a sunburn. Weird. I came across this product in the latest Real Simple magazine. I guess I am not the only fair skinned person at risk for chapped cheeks ; )

marshmallow snowmen & a Christmas gnome in the snow?

Evan's drawing of a gingerbread house. His class made gingerbread houses at school recently. He did a great job building and decorating his. He used marshmallows to create snowmen.

Happy Mail from Darla

How fun is this snow "globe"? A gnome and a mushroom... what more can you ask for in holiday decor? And what could be better than homemade batch of cookies arriving at your door? Yumm-O! I also got a wickedly cool witch sign too. Thanks, d!

Gil the Fish, Happy Mail, 'Art'ificial Light & Puppy Love

Always Bring Your Own Sunshine

a picture of one of my layouts from a year or so ago... seems so fitting now.

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Happy Mail

Happy Mail from my California Linda. The timing was perfect! Lovin' my goodies! And Evan has claimed the mini marshmallows as his own ; )

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'Art'ificial Light 'Art'ificial light garland. I made this in about 30 minutes. Wanted to bring a little artistic sunshine inside on these dark gray days.
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Puppy Love?

Proof that my brother Scot actually likes my Rosie dog although he would say that he simply tolerates her.

Proof that my brother is in denial about his puppy love ; ) Notice his read between the lines signal...

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Gil the Fish.

Apparently Gil is British. And Evan decided he needed a last name. So meet Gil Bubbles. Gil has "nice teeth" because Evan doesn't like fish teeth. I am liking my child's letter work and his use of arrows.

A desert landscape with a small pond of water, lots of sun and some well drawn birds.

Evan is so funny when he is being crafty. He makes the most interesting comments such as...

"going hardcore actually 'cuz I gotta get the job done"

winter blues?

photo from limpnickie.wordpress.com

I am trying not to be Debbie Downer, but I find myself in a dark mood quite often lately. I don't always trust myself to blog. I am fully aware that I am rather obsessed with sunlight and and the limited color spectrum around me. It has affected my ability to function at my usual level (which let's be honest wasn't exactly stellar to begin with). Is this what is labeled seasonal affective disorder (SAD)? Is it possibly more pronounced for me because I have always lived in an area where sunshine is plentiful? My symptoms are both physical and mental. I am not sure which is worse... most likely mental I would guess. Most folks around here complain amount the ever present snow and the bone chilling cold. I really don't mind either of these things. It would just be nice if once in awhile the snow and cold was accompanied by the color blue above and an abundance of direct sunlight. It would make for a gorgeous winter wonderland and a new meaning to having the "winter blues".

Not to worry though. I am not in denial about my affliction and I have a plan of action. I have taken on this Northern experience for better or for worse. I just didn't realize the 'for worse part' would involve my need for sunlight. And I really never understood what lake effect snow was all about, but boy oh boy am I getting a crash course on that subject too. The good news is I am having twinges of craftiness. I need to give my creative supplies some attention so I can maybe express my winter blues in my own special way.

SAD info

bundle up

just a quick post to say 'hi' : )

*Staples of survivor in the North*

I now have a coat closet that is actually filled with coats, hats, scarves, gloves and snow boots.

http://www.polyvore.com/
bundle up! by dljack75 featuring long sleeved tops

pops of color

Evan & I walked/trudged to school in the snow this morning (lots of it). I brought my camera and snapped some pics on the way back home. I was on the hunt for pops of colors in the frozen tundra.

this pink house looks even pinker surrounded by snow

okay, white & gray count as colors right?

red doors

This one's for you, d.

the side of our garage

what snow is for

Evan (in blue) with a school friend.

snow + hill + sled = lots of fun!

let's talk about weather...

It has snowed every day since November 27th!

What happened to things in moderation?

At least the snow is a change of pace from the usual almost daily rain we experienced before the temperatures chilled. Thus far it as been pleasant - no significant accumulations on the roads. (Although tonight and tomorrow we are expecting 4-6 inches of the white stuff.) And I have observed the snow is different here. It has a different feel to it. Who knew Indiana, PA had its own brand of snow? And here is another general thing that keeps me wondering about snow... why does it seem so quiet outside when it snows? One more thing while I am at it... why is the sun so absent in our new neck of the woods? I miss the sun!

Price & Rosie looking out from the front porch as Evan plays in the snow this morning. My custom Darla desk takes center stage on the porch with a basket of festive poinsettas. (photo is made of two different pictures layered together)
(click on images to enlarge)

something I've never seen before

Imagine looking out your window and seeing this.

My brain couldn't process the scene at first. A mobile home on the train tracks... gives new meaning to the word mobile...

I know there must be a redneck joke to be made here ; )

I guess trailer homes can be transported on train tracks around here. And for some reason it was decided to pull it off of the tracks at our street-train intersection. It was quite the process to witness.

decorating with humor

This slogan from posters created by the British Ministry of Information before WWII is found all over lately. Great sentiment then and now.

find this print here

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But sometimes a person doesn't want to stay calm. Sometimes you just want to act out. I love the humor of this art print by Earmark at Etsy.com. It hangs proudly in our home.

Earmark's Etsy Shop