Will It Ever End?

We were covered with another four inches of snow last weekend.  

We've been getting hit pretty hard this winter...it reminds me of when I was young!  Curious about the depth, I ventured out the back door with a yard stick and measured the snow on the ground: fifteen inches! 

This is the most snow I've seen since we moved here.  Our driveway looks more like a snow tunnel than a means to access the garage. 

The snow piles along our sidewalk are waist-deep in places from shoveling. 

The trees along the street are buried at least four feet up the trunk.  It's impressive, no doubt!  I usually like winter, and I enjoy the snow, but this year I'm ready for spring now.

  Anyone else?

Baby, It's COLD Outside!!

Brrrrrrrrrrr...here in northwest Ohio, it's below zero. 

As a high temperature. 

For two days straight now.

I can honestly say that I'm glad I don't have a homestead with animals right now!

Everyone in the majority of the US is either going through the cold snap, has received quite a bit of snow in the last few days, or both, so there's no reason to really talk about it that much.  I just thought I'd share the view from my little corner of the world, taken from the inside looking out, because I tried to go outside, and well...it's just too cold to go out and take pictures!  I do love the color palette of winter, though...blues, grays, silvers, whites, creams...like these colors from Design Seeds:

Stay warm and safe, everyone!

This frost was on the inside of the door.

Up close...I love frost crystals!

Icicles along the back side of the whole house.

Can you see the swirls in the snow?

Looking out the front door, which is also frosted up.  Winter, for sure!

Front yard.

Front porch and drive.

Patio furniture...seems like it's always the best way to measure the snowfall!

It's Getting Closer...

It's here.

The word that many dread.

The weather phenomenon that instills fear in the hearts of drivers young and old.

That four-letter word.

Snow...!

No, we don't have any yet.  It's in the weather forecast for this week, though!  It is a little early, but not unheard of.  I remember going trick-or-treating as a child with a heavy winter coat on, and snow on the ground some years.  It's been a while since it's been forecast this early, but I don't mind it--I always anticipate the first snows of the year.  I just think it's beautiful, and I love being inside, bundled up in a quilt, snuggled up all nice and warm with my hubby watching a movie.  Plus, it means that the holidays are getting closer!  I love this time of year.

Speaking of quilts, I received an early birthday present this year: this quilt that my mother-in-law made for me.  I've always wanted a hand-made quilt, but no one's ever given me one made especially for me.  I love it; it's just gorgeous!

I love receiving hand-made things, so it's perfect.  She made it with Christmas fabric, which is great, because it's my favorite holiday.  I love all things Christmas.  Bronner's Christmas store in Frankenmuth, Michigan is my favorite store.  If you've never been there, it's worth the trip, I promise.  You know, I would leave Christmas decorations up all year if I could.  Except for maybe July.

Well, that's it for now.  If you're anywhere in the northern half of the US right now, stay warm!

DIY Winter Decor--PS, It Has Sparkles!

I had an idea for a sparkly decoration for my wall to brighten up the cold winter days.  I could see it all in my head: the glitter, the letters, the snowflakes...so I took myself down to the local Hobby Lobby, purchased the bulk of my supplies, and set to work on my idea.  It turned out well, so I decided to share it with everyone!  It took a few days to make, because of drying time, but I think it's well worth it.  And, it wasn't that expensive, because I like to buy things that are on sale or that I can use coupons on.  So, without further ado, here's my project!

First, assemble your supplies.  In this picture, I purchased the wooden plaque, high-gloss acrylic spray, foam brushes, 1/2" thick x 3 1/2" tall chipboard letters, wooden cutout snowflakes, and clear plastic jewelry line.  I already had the different colors of glitter, all-purpose glue, wood glue, and paints.  I am missing the letter "T" and the picture hanging bracket in this photo.

I did this project in my living room.  Regardless of where you do this project, it will be a good idea to spread newspaper or a protective covering of some sort on the surface where you will be working.

The first thing I did was start painting the wooden plaque.  I used a white pearl paint, but it was somewhat see-through and would end up requiring several coats.  If you use a pearlized paint, you might want to apply a base coat of a solid color that matches your pearl paint.  It will cover much better.

Next, begin adding glitter to the letters.  Pour some all-purpose glue into a container, and using the small foam brush, and brush it on the letters like paint.  A thin coat will do just fine.  I started with the faces of the letters.

Then, sprinkle on the glitter.  Good thing hubs wasn't home for this step.  The glitter goes everywhere, and he HATES it.  I just laugh.

I did all the letters like this, making sure that I didn't have any bare spots on the letters.  I let the glue/glitter dry overnight.  Then I came back and started applying the glitter to the sides of the letters (try to keep glue and glitter from seeping onto the back of the letters).

Once all of the front and sides of the letters are glittered up, and your plaque is painted to your liking, it's time to attach your hanging hardware.  I decided to purchase a large metal hanger with pegs and teeth.  It sounds vicious, but it's really quite nice!  Check it out:

To attach these, simply measure out the middle of where you want to attach it, then gently tap each bracket side into the wood with a hammer.  Super easy!

Okay, now you are ready to attach your letters and strings for the snowflakes.  Cut your desired number of pieces of the plastic string to your desired length (I decided to just add three snowflakes) and wipe off the plaque to make sure it's free of debris (or in my case, glitter).  Begin to apply wood glue to the backs of the letters.  I'll demonstrate the wrong way:

You will want to add the clear string to the glue on the back of the letters before attaching the letters to the wood.

 

As you can see, leaving thick blobs of glue on the back of the letter will result in oozing glue when you apply pressure to the letter to attach it to the wood.  I forgot that when I did the W.  No biggie, I was able to wipe up most of it with wet and dry paper towels.  If you can't get all of the glue off, just do your best.  It'll dry mostly clear, and if it's noticeable, just touch it up with your paint.

Note:  I used a transparent ruler to create a guide to keep all of the letters straight.  I usually can eyeball things and be just about perfect, but the striations in the wood were throwing me off.  Just a tip to help you out.

Now, the right way to glue the letters:

Apply small amounts of wood glue and spread it around with your finger until it covers the back of the letter evenly and thinly.  Set the letter on the plaque and apply gentle pressure for a few moments.  Continue in this fashion, gluing the letters and strings where desired, until all of the letters and strings are in place.

Now is the time to decorate your snowflakes.  I applied a layer of silver paint to the front, then sprinkled iridescent glitter on the wet paint to get it to stick.  Let everything dry for several hours or overnight, for best results.

Okay!  Now we can attach the snowflakes and spray the plaque with a sealing spray.  Tie the clear string onto the snowflakes, making sure to tie the knots securely.  Grab your sparkly plaque and high-gloss spray and some spare newspaper, and head outside on a clear, cool day with low humidity.  Be sure to read the application instructions on your spray can and follow the instructions CLOSELY.  If you don't have proper ventilation when using the spray, the fumes and odor will build up very quickly.  Spray everything with the clear coating until you get the finish you want, and allow this to dry for about 24 hours.  Using the spray is an optional step, really; I sprayed mine with a coating of acrylic in the hopes that it would prevent the glitter from flaking off of the letters when I pack the plaque away with the other decorations.  Constant handling would cause it to wear off over time, so I wanted to protect it.  It's entirely up to you, though.

Well, now your done.  Stand back and admire your sparkly new wall art.  I hope you have as much fun as I did making this!  I plan on making another next week to go with my fall decor, and I'll post pictures of that too.  It'll look a little different, but the process will be the same.  SPARKLY!!!!!

January Comes and Goes...

And things don't change much, really.  It seems that January is usually a slow month, but this month has felt like it's gone by quickly.  We finally had a decent snow over the weekend, and everything has a nice white blanket now.  It's not supposed to last long, though.  What an odd winter!  We've had more rain than snow.  Oh well.  I have no control over the weather...yet.  Bwaaaahaaahaaa!

But I digress.  Or do I?  Bwaaaahaaahaaa!

A few weeks ago, we got a lot of rain overnight, and it caused some ponding on the back roads that I take to work.  The water had mostly subsided by the time I left work, and the roads were almost completely dry.  As I was driving, I came up behind an old man in a PT Cruiser, who came to a near-complete stop for some very shallow water that was coming across the road.  After getting through the death-defying water, he would go no faster than 35 mph down a road that was 55 mph, so I decided to pass him when there was no oncoming traffic.  As I passed him, he decides to flip me off!  I don't know why, because I had been patiently driving behind him, but I guess I offended him somehow.  An old man!  Old people aren't as nice as they used to be, I swear. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or be extremely mad at him, and I was a little of both.  I won't tell you what went through my mind--that's between me and God.  I just figure that he was being a moron and I was right, and that's all there is to it.  The end.

Hmm, what else is going on?  I've been lacking motivation lately.  In fact, at times I feel as though I border on depression.  It's hard to try and be excited about doing things I don't want to do.  My husband and I are trying to get back into shape and eat healthier, so that's been a plus.  We've both lost a few pounds so far (I type as I stare at the large peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookie on the plate next to me--you can't deprive yourself of everything, right??) and we've been exercising every day during the week.  I finally have my craft room arranged and useable again, after purchasing two large storage cabinets for my craft supplies.  It's nice to be able to use the room again, and have room to work in there.  Both cabinets are white, so it brightens the room up in the dull winter daylight.  I'm very happy with it.  As a result, I'm working on some new items for my shop.  I got the raise at work that I should have gotten last May, but that raise timing coincided with the pastor who hired me getting assigned to a new church, so it didn't happen.  My husband received a glowing review from his boss at work last week, so we're happy about that.

Well...I guess that's it for now.  Another Sunday gone, and another case of the Mondays is about to set in.  At least I have a few delicious cookies to cheer me up this week.

I know you're jealous.

It's easy to feel alone or forgotten in this world.  Life is tough!  Here is a Scripture verse from Isaiah 41:10 that I find encouraging: "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."  I hope you find it encouraging, too!

Beware The Ides of February...Oh, wait...

I Feel Like Ramblin'
I don't know why I chose the Shakespeare reference for my title this time, I just felt like being random.  So!  I've been getting much of what I wish for lately...first I wished for lots of snow.  I sure got that wish!  Then, I wished for it to all melt and for spring to come.  It's been spring-like and the entire 12+" of snow that covered the ground has all but melted away!  Now, I wish that the spring weather is here to stay, and that I had millions of dollars!  I'm very much looking forward to the days when I can open the windows to air out the house after along and stuffy winter...get some spring cleaning done...get my garden planted!  I'm ready for all of the sickness to fade out and the sinus problems to disappear for another year.  Last year at this time, I was preparing for my sister's wedding, which I still think about often.  It was one of the best weddings I've ever been to!  Everyone had a great time.  And it was so nice and warm out!  Lately I seem to be waxing nostalgic.  I keep thinking back to my sister's wedding, back to good times with friends...college...people that are no longer here.  Life sure is full of changes.  I know, the only thing constant in life is death and taxes.  What would life be like if no one or nothing ever changed?  What if you could stop time when you finally accomplish everything you always hoped for when you were young, and just bask in the happiness?  What if you never had to say good-bye to people you loved?  I guess that's where faith in Jesus Christ comes in, even though your faith doesn't save you from going through some pretty difficult situations in life.  I think that I feel like I'm in a stagnant part of life right now, which makes me look to the past instead of planning for the future.  It's easier to look at the past--you already know what happened.  No one ever knows what the future will hold.  I guess that's why we should appreciate what we have right now, and who we have right now, because there may not be a tomorrow.  Carpe diem!  Carpe chocolate!

Uncertainty can be troubling, and unfortunately, life is full of it.  There are many verses in the Bible about trusting God when life seems questionable.  I like this one: "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."  Psalm 55:22.  Honestly, it's not always easy to trust that God has the best things in store for us, but He does!  You might see it right away, over time, or never at all, but God's way is always the best way, and He will always watch out for His children.

Cabin Fever

Top o'the mornin' to ya!

Aaah, do I have the spring fever.  I'm looking outside at the beautiful white landscape, ready for it to be gone and warmer weather to set it.  There is so much snow everywhere, but with temps forecasted to be around 50 by mid-week, that should take care of a lot of snow.  It seems like it's been an exceptionally hard winter this year, and I will be glad when the trees have leaves and I can once again go outside in sandals and a tee-shirt instead of heavy winter socks and a bulky winter coat.  Aahh, I can almost smell the spring air, and feel the warm breeze.  I enjoyed the weather briefly yesterday, when I made a trip to the store to get hubby some items to make him feel better--he seems to be having some sort of sinus problem and had a very sore throat for the past few days.  He seems to be doing much better today, though, which is a good thing!  It was very nice out, and I got away with just wearing a lightweight jacket.  I'm ready for that to be the norm!  Maybe I just need a warm-weather-destination trip. 

Valentine's Weekend

Well, today is Valentine's Day.  We celebrated the holiday on Friday though, which was good since my husband came down with the sickness Saturday.  We had a nice dinner out, exchanged gifts, and had an overall very relaxing weekend at home.  My hubby is sending me to a local day spa again this year as my gift.  I really like the spa, and it's such a nice experience.  He sent me there last year for the first time, which was a wonderful surprise and a great pampering experience.  If you've never had the opportunity to spend a few hours at a day spa, I would highly recommend it!  You won't be disappointed.  

Recipes

Yesterday, to end the weekend, I made a pot of beef stew.  Can I just say YUM?  I tweeked a recipe that I found online for beef stew (from Paula Deen's beef stew recipe) and have my version posted on the recipe blog.  I'm not bragging, but it was delicious and really hit the spot last night!  I also made a half-sized Hershey chocolate cake on Saturday, and that was a wonderful dessert.  If you want to see the recipes and haven't visited the site, click here.  Thanks to everyone who has checked it out.  I hope that you find recipes on there that you try and like, and I would love to post some of your recipes on there as well!

Today we celebrate love.  You don't have to be in a romantic relationship with someone to enjoy the Valentine's holiday, although that is generally the main target audience of this day.  Chances are, you have family and friends that love you just as you are!  God certainly does.  He created you, and you are His children.  He loves you no matter what.  Ephesians 5:1-2 reinstates how much He loves us: "1Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us...".  God loves us so much, and wants to be with us always, that He allowed His Son to die for our salvation!  Now that's love.

Snow Day!

Photo from the All Things Digital Website

Hello from snowy, slippery Ohio!  I had a snow day today thanks to the storm that has debilitated a large chunk of the country right now.  I guess the groundhog is predicting an early spring this year...we'll see.  I have to say, I don't trust anything a groundhog says.  You know how they are.

Because I was home today, I took the opportunity to do housework and baking.  I tried a new recipe for dinner rolls which can be found on the Recipes page under "Top Notch Dinner Rolls".  I found this recipe on The Amish Cook website.  This is a good and informative website about Amish life and culture, and frequently features pictures and recipes of Amish life, as well as the "Amish Cook" weekly column written by an Old-Order Amish woman named Lovina Eicher and read in many newspapers across the country.  This is her editor's website. Okay, now that you have all of the background, I have to say these rolls were very good!  I am posting the full recipe, and it makes around 30 decent-sized rolls.  I would recommend halfing it if you are a small family like us.  I'm going to try and freeze the rolls, and I will comment on the recipe about whether this ends up being a good idea or bad one.  This is a great bread recipe, and I think it would make two good-sized bread loaves if you want to try that.  We are having meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and the rolls, and for dessert I whipped up a chocolate pudding pie in a graham cracker crust.  I enjoy being home to make a hearty meal for a cold, snowy day!  I hope everyone has weathered (haha, pun intended) the storm well, and that everyone stays warm and safe for the rest of the winter, no matter how long it may last!

The weather has been rough this winter.  I really think that this winter has been the worst in quite a while...cold, snowy, gray and dreary for the majority up to this point.  So it warms me to think of how much God loves His children, and remembering that always gives me hope of what is to come!  Think of these verses: "He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he."--Deut. 32:4; "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you."--Psalm 9:10; "Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies."--Psalm 36:5.  Praise God for His unconditional love always!

Snow days!

Hello!

Been a while again since I've been on here.  I can't believe that January is half-over already!  I always thought that January was the slowest month of the year, but it's moving fast.  Before I know it, the Superbowl will be upon us, and I will be enjoying the antics of the Puppy Bowl :).  I can't help it; I enjoy watching the Superbowl for the commercials, as my husband will attest, but I get bored with the game.  Not to mention that the half-time shows have been incredibly bad ever since the Janet Jackson incident, what has it been now, seven or eight years ago?  Seems like they only want bands who have had recent hip-replacement surgeries that will ensure no "wardrobe malfunctions".  But, it is still fun to "watch" with hubby and we usually have some fun foods to go along with the game.  Too bad the Colts won't be playing this year!

Christmas Is Officially Over

Well, we finally went to see my in-laws for Christmas.  We were also there to help my husband's brother move into his new house, and we got to spend time with all of the nieces and nephews.  We had a good time, but unfortunately, it led to me catching the stomach flu bug from them, and I spent the first half of this past week in the bathroom.  Thankfully, though, my husband hasn't caught it, and his parents and brother and sister never caught it, which makes me think that they had it sometime in the past and don't have to worry about catching it again.  Nevertheless, I've been sanitizing everything I can think of in my house, just in case I'm wrong.  Seems like everyone I know has either had it or knows someone (besides me) who has this year, so it must be very contagious.  Just a warning: wash your hands and use lots of hand sanitizer!!

Some Sad News

I have some sad news to share: my sister informed me last weekend that her dog has lung cancer.  She had it before they adopted her.  She loves her dog, and I have had a photo or two and mention of Ninja the dog on here back when my sister and brother-in-law first adopted her (see November 1).  I would like to ask that you might keep them in your prayers, because this will be hard for them.  They can't afford to, nor do they think it would be right, to pump the dog full of medicines to prolong her life, so they will eventually need to put her to sleep.  It's too bad, because she is the sweetest dog I've met in a long time.  They don't know how long they will have, so just keep them in your prayers occasionally.  I would be grateful.

Serious Case of the Winter Blahs

I think it's true.  I have the mid-winter blahs now.  I'm itching to go on vacation somewhere, but it's not an option!  I usually start to get cabin fever about this time of year, since there is not really anything to look forward to for the rest of the season.  We seem to be getting a lot of snow right now, and the temps are forecasted to be bitter cold by the end of next week, which makes me want to stay home and sleep all day.  Don't get me wrong--I like winter.  But I think that I would be fine with snow in December and January, and then it can be spring from February through June :).  It's really almost time to start thinking ahead to my garden for this summer.  I need to figure out what I'll grow this year, at least...probably more green beans, onions, tomatoes, my row of asparagus, and lettuce.  It's so great to have fresh produce right in your back yard!  Perhaps in another year we can think about adding more garden beds. 

Prayer is an important part of any Christian life.  Without it, we are not doing much in the way of communicating with God, nor are we helping our relationship with Him grow!  He wants us to talk to Him, even though He already knows what we want, need, think, say, etc.  Luke 18:1-10 is the parable of prayer: "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care what people think, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"  Pray without ceasing, because God hears His children, and He loves us in the way only a parent can love a child.  He will always be there for us!