Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year!


Here we are. The end of another year. It seemed like it just flew by. Once again, I don't have any New Years Resolutions. (I could never keep them, so I just hung that up!) But, I do want to try and slow down this year. I want to take the time to enjoy each day in it's entirety. I also want to enjoy and appreciate everyone who is a part of it. Like Pooh, I want every day to be my favorite day. So, (even though it scares me) I am going to let go and let whatever will be, be. Que Sera, Sera.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Is It Spring Yet?

There's something about winter that just messes with me. I can't quite put my finger on it. I can't say I feel bi-polar because I'm not depressed. I still love my life and I still feel pretty "happy" most days. (Except that week that Mother Nature messes with me! I can't wait to give her the boot someday!) During the other seasons, it's nothing new if I never leave my house for five days straight. I do go outside, but most weeks I don't leave the yard until the weekend. Doesn't bother me one bit, and in fact, I like it that way! During the winter it's the same thing, only I don't go out in the yard. Unless it's warm and sunny, (which doesn't happen very often) then I bundle up all the dc kids, and spend the next 20 minutes pulling them and their boots out of the snowbanks. When my arms feel like they are going to fall off, we head back inside. I wonder if  because I don't go outside that often, or I can't just jump in my car and drive to "wherever" on bad weather weekends, if it isn't causing some sort of "anxiety." (which is a strong word for it, but I can't think of any other word to describe it right now) Sort of like being "trapped" in the house or in Wheaton, or something. I don't feel free to just go and do what I please. I have to answer to the weather. I'm not in control and I need to be in control. I can't help it. It's the way I was born. (I think I just had an Aha! moment here. I need to be in control....By George, I think I've got it!! The weather is controling me and I don't like it! Not one bit.) But, then comes Spring, when the snow starts to melt and the sun is shinning, and I can run outside in just a sweatshirt. I feel like superwoman! I can do anything! It's spring!! But, in the winter, I feel like superwoman who has had all her powers stripped away from her. I can't do anything. Well, now that I've figured out my problem, (See, writing IS great therapy!!!) what do I do about it? Does anyone else feel like this? What works for you? If you have any answers or thoughts, shoot me an email at tdsiegel@hotmail.com
I would love to hear from you. Email anytime. I'll be in the house.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas

 
May the Christmas Spirit
stay within your heart, all year long.
Merry Christmas!
Tim, Desiree & Landon
 

Monday, December 24, 2012

The Best Gift Of All

I am constantly telling Landon to "lighten up, don't be afraid to show your sense of humor, laughter is the best medicine, etc..." Tonight with a little smirk, Landon told me to "keep an open mind," and presented me with this little sign. He gave me a little bit of his sense of humor, and I couldn't ask for more. I love it!! (I have to admit, somedays I do ride a broom. ha!) 



Friday, December 21, 2012

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Where Ya Wanna Sit???

This is one of my all time favorites....



You can choose to live your life with unbridled joy and good humor like the occupants of the first car or the solemn rigidity of those in the third. It's up to you, but my advice would be to throw your hands in the air, scream for all you're worth and know that you are fully alive as you begin the downward plunge. Life is too short. Enjoy the ride!


Boy, doesn't that say it all? I am sure we all know people that we would just love to toss in the front seat, just to see if it will shake that stick out of them...heh,heh...I know I do!!!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Barf

Yep. It's that time of year again. Flu season. Used to be when I was young, (a year or two ago...) I never got sick. I used to be able to brag about that. However, it seems these last few years, I pick up that darn bug no matter how many times I wash my hands or spray myself with Lysol. (Just a joke folks!) Yesterday, I was zipping right along, had the laundry going, picking up the house, munching on Christmas cookies, checking out my facebook world, and then....bam! I suddenly found myself standing over the porcelain throne, losing my Christmas cookies. I never saw it coming. It just snuck up and knocked me right off my feet. I then could not get warm and my body started to ache. Crap. Around 5:30, I headed up to bed. Tim came upstairs to tell me that Landon wanted to stay at his Grandma's, because he didn't want to get sick. I couldn't argue with that. So, I started to tell Tim all the things that he needed to do. "Don't forget to write a check for the ski trip, fill out the form, sign the paper, pack a snack, pack his lunch,don't forget his backpack, gloves, hat, boots, tennis shoes, make sure you take jeans without holes, don't take a play shirt, take a school shirt, don't forget to pack his toothbrush...hey where ya going? Come back.... Aren't you gonna bring me little cups of 7up? Who's gonna hold my hair when I puke? Hello?....." He was gone. Never saw him again. Not even at 10:00 A.M. when I finally woke up from a night of puking and 3,445 hot baths. But, that's o.k. sooner or later, the flu will hit Tim too. But, Landon and I won't be able to hear him, because Landon will be at his Grandma's and I will be in Fargo, sitting in my hotel room, with the remote control, a newspaper, and sipping my sweet hot coffee, waiting for the mall to open...

Friday, December 7, 2012

I Was Wrong

A couple of posts after this one, I kinda tease about Landon bringing home scraps of felt from school. But, once again he makes me eat my words and I am happy to admit I was wrong. It turned out to be a good thing, and I was too quick to form an opinion. He's repurposing and creating! Love it!!


 
Any kid can come home from school with dirt on their jeans from playing hard.
(Actually he decided to walk home from school because...
 "It's snowing mom! I just had to!")
But, it takes a real tough kid to come home from school with dirt on their jeans,
and a backpack full of felt scraps to dive into for a cool sewing project!
He's gonna make a mighty fine husband someday!


Spritz Cookies

Last year I bought a spritz cookie press in a temporary moment of insanity. I am a terrible baker and even though I try hard, there are only a tiny handful of successful recipes that I can tuck under my hat. I don't know what the problem is. It might be my oven, or typos in all the recipes I try. Well, it could be. Anyway, I tried it once last year and it was an Epic Fail. (How cool am I to use cool words like, Epic Fail? Hee hee...) Sticky dough, hard, dry, burnt...you get the picture. So, when our son Landon found the press and begged me to make cookies, I gotta tell ya, I wasn't overly excited. But, I was willing to give it another shot, and hopped on PINTEREST (I LOVE PINTEREST!) to guide me in a better direction than last year. There I found a cream cheese recipe someone had pinned from Andrea Myers blog, that claimed the cream cheese kept the cookies soft. Here is the website:

http://andreasrecipes.com/cream-cheese-spritz-cookies/

(I didn't use the orange zest or cinnamon. That might be part of my problem. Not being able to follow an entire recipe!)

Every once in a while I get an easy Daycare day. (I am a full time Child Care provider with 11 dc kids and one of my own!) Today was one of those days. With only three kids here and one of them in preschool all morning, I thought it was the perfect time to tackle those cookies. The thing about spritz cookies is you have to pump out about 3,444 crooked, no good cookies, before the press starts cranking out good, keeper cookies. So, for every tube you fill, you get 2 good cookies. Well, it seems that way anyway. (If anyone knows the secret for getting all good, keeper cookies, please tell me!) We ended up with a couple sheets of good ones, and then I saved a little dough for my little preschooler boy. He came back at dinnertime, and was all set to make cookies! (He had made drop sugar cookies a few days ago with his mom, and was ready to go again!) I handed him the press and I guess the dough must have gotten a little too warm as it was not cooperating at all! I took it back and tried myself without success. He just shook his head, sighed and said, "Just take it out of there and I'll show you how to make cookies!" And he did. Check them out! (That little comment made me chuckle all day. One of the many perks of my job!)



Now, THIS is how you make spritz cookies!

Ain't Ya Gonna Use That?

I might have created a mini-monster-me. Today, when I checked Landon's backpack, it was filled with pieces of cut up red and green felt. When I asked where it came from, Landon informed me that his class did an art project today. The felt was left over and the teacher was just going to throw it away! So, he asked her if I could have it to make Christmas ornament for my dc kids. Oh, heavens. While I love his thinking, I might have to teach him some boundaries. But, bless his heart. He was thinkin' of his momma. I'll take it!!!

The Gift

I can show you the gift I received yesterday! Erin Martinek is our local family photographer and she rocks! She took our pictures (the ones I posted of Landon in the tree) and for Christmas, she gave out 3,455,366 (I am sure it felt like that to her!) HANDMADE Christmas ornaments to all the people she took pictures of! Amazing... Here is ours.

 
I LOVE IT!!!
 
 
Photo: It's the most wonderful time of the year!!  

Here is a preview of the 2012 customer appreciation ornaments....can you find yours? 

 Thanks so much to my on-the-job student, Ms. Kassandra Johnson for all of her hard work and assistance on this project in the past few weeks.  We have successfully created over 120 one-of-a-kind ornaments! (this photo shows roughly 2/3's of them!)
 
This is the picture Erin posted on facebook.
It's just a tiny portion of all of the ornaments she did.
I love the crates and all the cool little treasures tucked in here and there.
Isn't it the coolest thing ever?
And that box it came in...
Just kidding!!
 
 


Thursday, December 6, 2012

It's A Wonderful Box. Really.

Yesterday when one of my dc mom's came to pick up, she gave me a sweet little Christmas gift, in a sweet little box. (I won't say who or what as she may have others on her list and I don't want to spoil the surprise.) The box was really nice. (Not as nice as the gift, but it was a nice box.) It was a nice hard, corrugated cardboard box with cute little tuck in flaps. She had a colorful pretty cloth ribbon tied around it too. It was just a really nice, too cotton pickin' cute box! I asked her if she wanted the box back, and she just smiled and said no. Then, I asked her if she was sure, because this was a really nice box and she could save a little money and use it again. She laughed and said no. Then I told her that she should really take the box and use it again, and she laughed again and said, "No. Really. Keep the box!" I just shook my head and gave in and kept the box. (It's so nice, I probably won't use it though. ha!)
Now, getting off track here...I was watching a show the other night called Hoarders. I am sure you have heard about it. If not, it's about people who can't throw away anything. Their houses are piled to the ceiling with trash. I don't watch it very often, but when I do, I just sit there with my mouth hanging open, thinking..."No waaaaay..." Every time. Hording is a very real mental illness. Even though I know that, when I hear them say something like, "Well, this paper plate is only dirty on one side. Why, if we just flip it over, we can get a good three or four more uses out of it. I can't throw this plate away, it's still good!" I just think, "What is wrong with you? That's not right!" I know. I know. They can't help it. I know they can't, because both my husband and my dad are one little pile away from being horders. Let me tell ya folks, I've got a little experience in this department. Just a little.
Anyway, getting back on track here....
After that conversation with my dc mom, she left and as she was pulling out of the driveway, it hit me. Oh, man....I sounded just like a hoarder. What must she think? What is wrong with me? That's just not right! But really, it is a wonderful box. Really. It is.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Hello. Can you hear me now?

Last week my Aunt Darlene asked me if I would be interested in a closed caption FREE (Heck ya!) telephone. So, she refered me to the company that set her up and yesterday the phone guy arrived and hooked me right up! (If you are interested, just shoot me an email and I'll hook you up too!) I called myself and spoke a few words to show you how it works.

 
 
The phone guy told me that there was a "live person" that would be listening to whoever called me and would be typing only their end of the conversation. The live person would not be able to hear what I was saying, only what the person who called me was saying. Of course, I thought.."Say what? No way..." When I commented that would be a very boring job, he agreed but that is what that person did for a living. I would not be able to do that job. Not just because I would hear/type everything wrong, but there's no way I could sit still by the phone and wait for people to talk, all day long! But, luckily someone out there in this world wants to do it, and they do. I thank you, live person! So, then I had to call my friend Nancy to tell her all about it. Nancy is my fun friend. (Well, all my friends are fun, but she's extra fun!) It doesn't matter what we do. We know how to have fun! It just comes natural. Sometimes it's silly clean fun like wearing paper crowns at Buffalo Wild Wings or riding the big Ferriswheel at Scheels. Sometimes it's just crazy fun like, taxi rides from cabdrivers from crazyville, (that's another story for another day) or dueling piano bars in the cities. Either way, it's always a good time.
 
 
Here we are 40 years from now.
Might need a little help getting down,
but I bet we'd have no trouble
 shimmying (is that a word?) up that tree!
 
Anyway...getting back on track here, I called my friend and told her that there would be a live person listening to her end of the conversation and typing it to me. That was all she needed to hear. We laughed and laughed and the poor lady/man on the other end either had a really good time or they were so relieved when we hung up. I like to think they had a good time. I know I did.
Thanks for the laughs Nancy. I'll call ya tomorrow.
 
 
 
You really had to be there.
 
 
 
 



Monday, December 3, 2012

Ready. Set. GO!!!!

Recently, I've received a few emails from Landon's teachers expressing their concern for Landon. Landon is A.D.H.D. and meds or not, each day is a struggle. It is so hard to try and explain what it feels like to have this, and unless you have it or are close to someone who does, it's almost impossible to understand. I am going to use horses as metaphors to try and explain it. To an ordinary child, going to school is like going to a nice big ol' pasture. There are other horses there to socialize with, green grass to eat, a watering hole to quench your thirst, ample room to roam, and a rancher to oversee it all. To a child with A.D.H.D., going to school is like being the race horse who is cooped up in a little 6'x3' stall, just waiting for the "Ready. Set. GO!!!" So you can be free to break though that door and RUN! The green grass and other horses are nothing but a blur. All you can think about is getting to the finish line, so you can be done and go home. Most of Landon's classmates have been together since they were three years old and in Little Flock. They are almost too close for comfort. Sometimes Landon's med's wear off or he is just off kilter. On these days, Landon can't sit still. He can't focus. He is all over the place. Like a racehorse trapped in a stall. He will shout out answers instead of quietly speaking. He can be destructive. His hands need to keep busy at all times, so if he has a stack of pencils and if he is feeling like the announcer just said...."Set"....he will break those pencils in a nervous frenzy and stuff them in his desk or the teacher will throw them in the garbage. He is not perfect. He is not ordinary. It can be a distraction and it can drive the teachers insane. It does. I know it does. And I am so sorry that he cannot behave like an ordinary child. He gets it from me. I was/am the same way. It's not fun. While it doesn't happen everyday, it does happen. A few of his classmates have started to pick on him. They call him names and make him cry. I would not have known this if his teachers had not told me. Landon never complains or tells on them. When I confronted Landon about this, I asked him how often this happens and when he said, "pretty much every day." I about lost it. The memories of my own crappy school days came flooding back. (Try being a hyperactive, little deaf girl in a church school consisting of 40 perfect church kids! But, I believe I posted about that nightmare last year.) I so wanted to dig out my pink cape and fly down to that school....but I didn't. (But, that doesn't mean I won't!) I know it's hard to understand. I know most folk look at him, and think he just needs a little more discipline or he just needs to behave. Sometimes, that is true. Sometimes he is just acting like a ten year old hormonal boy, but there are times when it is beyond his control. It's during those times, that I ask you to not judge. Not just Landon, but every child/adult that doesn't appear to be perfect or ordinary. I wish Landon's class could spend a day with him outside of the boundaries of the school walls. I wish they could see him build the most out-of-this world fort, complete with electricity and a fishing pond, out of nothing but a few boards, a tarp and an extension cord. (I think I did post a picture of that a few months back) No, he's not an ordinary child. But, let me tell you what he is. He is EXTRAORDINARY! His mind is brilliant. (Even if his body doesn't always cooperate.) The years will fly by quickly, and soon he will be free to be what he needs to be. Himself. I can't ask for more.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Funky Buscuits

 
Every time I turn on the news or the computer,
there is always a comment being made about how excited
someone is that the possibility of weed is gonna be legalized in their state.
What do I think?
I think it's a bad idea. I'm not saying if you like weed, you're a bad person.
I'm just saying that on one of the rare occasions that I do go out,
 I don't want to be sitting next to someone, who's blowing
weed in my face and other than leaving, there's nothing I can do about it.
 
Just look at these biscuits.
No I didn't make them myself.
Yes, they are from a can.
(These are pre-baked)
But, tell me. How can one can produce perfectly round/oval shapes,
and from the other can, out comes funky, weird, wads of dough?
Same date. Same UPC code.  Same brand.
When I took this picture, my intent was to post about how annoyed
I was that my biscuits were all funky. But, now I think it's a good example
for pointing out how I feel about weed being legalized.
The round biscuits are me, pleasantly buzzed from a few beers.
The funky biscuits are me, pleasantly buzzed from a few beers,
 and also jacked up from breathing the drifting second hand weed smoke.
I don't wanna be a funky biscuit.
 
*I realize that there are probably many restrictions on the "weed laws." I just haven't taken the time to read or research it. I realize it is for"medical" purposes and so on. I am just writing this based on thinking that maybe eventually, they will allow people to smoke their weed right along with their cigg's, in the places that still allow smoking. Please don't send me emails about how that isn't going to happen, or it will happen etc. I am really not that concerned. I rarely go out and I don't care if you smoke or not. That's your business. (As long as I don't have to breathe it!) It's just a fun post and way for me to complain without having to debate with anyone for hours about it. O.K.? O.K. Thanks.
 
 
 

One Of My Favorite Places To Go

 
There it is.
One of my favorite places to go.
This is the second time I have been privileged
to enter this building. A couple of years ago
I won $1000 on a print and play ticket!
They say the third time's a charm.
So...the next time I come here....
 
 
There's gonna be a whole lotta
extra zeros on the end of this number!!
Yee haw!!
P.S. This is the worst picture ever taken.
I was fighting a cold, but I look like I have the flu!
It's the only one I've got though, so it is what it is.
I am not going to think about the fact that they are
going to blow it up and plaster it on the wall at the
store where I bought the winning ticket from. UGH!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

I Am Loved

I have been "fighting" a cold since August. For real. I kid you not. Sore throat one day, gone the next. Sniffles one day, gone the next. Fever one day, gone the next. And so on. Well....yesterday I woke up with a full blastin' head on cold! Plus a sore throat and by nighttime I had totally lost my voice. It's the pits! Today, my voice is slowly is coming back, but the cold nonsense has decided to linger on. When Tim or Landon get sick, I am the one who makes sure they have cold meds and that they are taken care of. When I get sick....I'm pretty much on my own. Tm and Landon aren't very nurturing and my mom is a million miles away. My dad is here in Wheaton, but he won't come within a mile of our house when we are sick. (I do have to say that Landon did voluntarily unload the dishwasher last night, so I could rest. Bless his heart.) Last night I took a hotbath, rubbed Vic's all over me and drug my sick body to bed. There wasn't any point in closing my dc as all the kids have the crud too and I wouldn't be able to just lay around and do nothing anyway. So, I opened the doors for business and went through 3,444 boxes of kleenexes between myself and the 8 little ones today. (By the way... Check out the label on your Vic's jar. It says..."Spirits of Turpintine!" I'm gonna throw mine away. That's just not right.) Anyway, today one of my dc mom's walked in the door to pick up her kids, and was holding a bag full of goodies. For me! She made homemade chicken soup, homemade natural cough/cold syrup and homemade/natural vapor oil to help me breathe. I felt so loved! Isn't it amazing how just being "taken care of" can make you instantly feel so much better? I so needed that. And the best part is, it is actually working and I do feel better for real!!! Thank you so much Jenna (If you ever find this and read this) for taking care of me. Can you come over at bedtime tonight and tuck me in too? Just kidding! ;) But, I sure do feel blessed. Thank you.



Sunday, November 25, 2012

Ah, Bah, Humbug!

When Landon was a baby, I used to LOVE Christmas. He would get all giddy and excited when I would bring out the boxes and boxes of Christmas decorations. We would plaster them all over the house. Fill every room. It looked like Christmas threw up in our house! But, we loved it. Now that he's/I'm older, the excitement has worn off. Tim isn't much help either, so like probably most homes in the country, Christmas is up to mom. (me.) I'm not diggin' it so much these days. I don't enjoy hauling all those boxes up and down the stairs. I enjoy having the decorations out and about for about 3 days give or take, after that I am so ready to pack it all back up and have my house back. I also don't enjoy vacuuming up pine needles daily and cleaning up pine needle puke. (We have three cats that think they are suppose to eat and puke them up, daily.) Since Landon doesn't believe in Santa Claus anymore either, (I still make him hang up his stocking along with mine and Tim's. I want my Christmas candy, darn it!) even that little joy is gone. So, if it wasn't for Landon, I could easily do away with the holidays all together. I know, I know. I sound like a scrooge. But honestly, my dream plan would be to go to church on Christmas Eve, then drive to the airport and take off (With Tim and Landon) to some warm country until it was all over. But, I have a husband who won't fly and a son who still wants a real Christmas. So, on I go. Last night, Tim and I made a quick stop to Menard's to pick up a Christmas tree. (I had gotten rid of our artificial tree a few years ago. I was DONE hauling 4,567 bags of fake tree branches that poked through and ripped my arms apart to the bones, every year! Done, I tell ya.) Every year, we pick out a big ol' tree that takes up half our living room. It takes 45 hours of turning it so, "the good side shows." 67 hours to decorate it and I pick out needles from the carpet all year long. This year, I told Tim I wanted a smaller tree. I guess I was thinking, "skinnier" and he was thinking, "shorter." I had just done a purse show and was really tired, so I told Tim to just go and pick one out, while I went in search of a few other items we needed. We left it in the van last night and today, when Tim brought it in and set it up, I immediately didn't like it. I didn't hate it, but it was sooo short! So, I started looking around and thinking of what I could do to make it taller. I decided to set it on my new/old trunk table and added a few coffee/grain sacks and other items and called it good.

 
 
 
But then....(Sorry. The story's not over.) The nightmare began. We usually get a short needle tree, but this year Tim decided to get a long needle one. Have you ever tried to hang ornaments on a long needle tree? It's like trying to wipe snot off your hands, with your hands. It just doesn't work! So, I had to "set" a few snowflakes and little light ornaments in the tree where I could. They kept sliding off, and I had a few choice words that just seemed to escaped my mouth somehow. I swear at that point, I had no  control over it whatsoever! But, since everyone disappeared when I announced it was time to decorate the tree, I had no one to offend and nothing to worry about. (Because of the cats, I can't decorate the bottom quarter of the tree. It wasn't that I gave up, it's just I didn't want to put up with cat tennis this year.) As if that wasn't bad enough, after spending 45 hours trying to get the lights to stay on the tree, half of them decided to quit working! Of course it wasn't until after I had the ornament's hung/set up in that darn ol' tree, that decided to do that. Then I wanted to use my new camera to take "beautful night time, twinkle light" photos. Not gonna happen. I tried every setting on the darn camera and all I got was big blurs of blobs of color. UGH!!! So, I flipped on the lights and shot a couple of ol' regular shots and stuck them up here. Done. Last year, I had a few little red signs, with white letters that I sold at my holiday craft shows. They said.... "This Is As Merry As We Get." So, like those signs....this year....This Is As Merry As This Momma's Gettin'! Merry Christmas and to all a good night! (Don't worry. I'll come around after the stress of today wears off, and all will be merry and bright once again! Until I have to fight the crowds to go Christmas shopping anyway.)
 


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving



There is always, always, something to be grateful for.
Some of our cupcakes in life may not look perfect,
but they might just still, taste devine!
 Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!


Monday, November 19, 2012

Evangeline Elmquist



I posted my little "special friend" story on my Swedish Cowgirl facebook page and the response was overwhelming. I am still in shock. To me it was just another one of my little stories, but boy how it seemed to touch a lot of people. At the present time, I have almost 80 likes and I don't know how many comments. All of the comments were sweet, positive and wonderful! There were several compliments that I had received myself, that just blew me away. It wasn't my intention to get compliments when I posted that story, I just wanted to share my "special friend" with everyone as she had really made my day. It was the first real story I've posted on there, and unlike my blog which doesn't have a place to comment, I wasn't prepared for all those comments! It is so nice to know there are so many nice people out there! Because my S.C. page is public as it is a business page, I didn't even know many of the people who commented! Through those comments, I found out that my special friend's name is Evangeline Elmquist and she is a published poet! (Funny thing here, she reminded me of my grandma who passed away with Alzhiemers and whose last name was Lindquist. Hmmm...maybe grandma was just saying hi through Evangeline?)  She had a twin sister who she lived with all her life, but sadly passed away. I was able to find a site that has one of her books of poetry for sale. It is a tribute to her twin sister, May.
I encourage everyone to purchase this book. It's just a nice thing to do and I think it would make Evangeline happy. Who knows....it might make you happy too!


http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-0056631017/Precious-Memories-in-Lifes-Garden-of-Remembrance-of-a-Beloved-Sister-May-Violetta-Elmquist-by-her-sister-Evangeline.aspx

Precious Memories in Life�s Garden of Remembrance of a Beloved Sister, May Violetta Elmquist, by her sister Evangeline

Saturday, November 17, 2012

My Special Friend

I went to Hoffman today to do a purse show. Over the years of doing shows, I have met 7,767 people and remember about 5 of them. O.k. maybe a few more than that, but it's mostly a sea of nameless faces. My memory leaves much to be desired! But, every now and then, someone comes along who leaves a really big impression on my brain and on my heart. Today was one of those days. Whenever I do holiday shows, I have a little bowl of mint candies sitting on my checkout table for my customers to help themselves to after they check out. Today, I decided to put some of the candy in a basket and pass them out to the people who were in my booth, while they were still looking and deciding. Candy makes everyone feel good, and I thought it was not only a nice gesture, but it might be a good business move too. (It was!) As I was chatting and passing out candy, something bright and colorful caught my eye. It was the sweetest little ol' lady, dressed in the most colorful, floral dress. She had a long strand of pretty pearl beads hanging around her neck, a lace shawl over her shoulders, flowers in her hair and bright red lipstick applied just, oh so right. She was with another younger woman who was either her daughter or maybe her helper. (I am not sure if she was mentally challenged or a victim of Alzheimer's.) As I started to walk towards her with my little basket of candy, she spotted me and held out her arms towards me. She excitedly proclaimed to her companion, "Look! Look! It's my special friend! I missed you special friend. I'm so happy you're here. Are you happy?" Now this sweet lady had never seen me before in her life, and even though I can't remember everyone, if I had met her in the past, I never would have forgotten her! But, in that moment, at that time,to her I was her special friend. So, her special friend I would be. But before I could answer her questions, she suddenly got really quiet, grasped both of my hands in hers, and in a whispering voice she asked me, "Did you miss me?" She look so sad,  as if she thought I was going to tell her that I hadn't missed her, and I gotta tell ya, it was heart wrenching. So, in my most overly excited voice, I reassured her that yes indeed, I had missed her. She clapped her hands and laughed and smiled a huge bright smile. All was well in her world once again. I loved what she said, and so to all my special friends out there...."Hello special friend. I 'm so happy you are here. Are you happy?"

I hope you are happy and that you have someone to miss and to miss you, whether it be a spouse, child, or special friend. Life is short. Be happy.

Now you know I didn't let that sweet lady leave without a picture! Her helper/daughter took the picture with my phone, so it isn't the greatest. But, you sure can see the happiness pouring out of my special friend's face. She's happy!



I'm A Winner, Baby!




Guess there was a reason I didn't win
 a turkey at turkey BINGO.
There were bigger plans in store for me!
Just in time for Christmas shoppng....

Thursday, November 15, 2012

B.I.N.G.O.!!

 
Every year we head over to the American Legion
to play turkey bingo. This year Landon took the
winning turkey home! He thought it was pretty
cool to win, but not so cool to take a picture of
him with the turkey. So, no smile for momma.
That's o.k. He still looks sweet as pie to me!
Turkey pot pie!!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The Road Less Traveled

 
I've come to another crossroad in my life. Yep. Another one. I probably have had more irons in the fire than I care to mention, but that's me. I have to keep busy. I can't just sit and play with kids all day (even though I love them!) and I can't just sit and watch t.v. all night or go fishing all weekend. (Even though I love Tim and Landon! I just can't!) I've always loved old funky junk and I love to create fun stuff out of it. I also love just having it sitting around to look at. It makes me happy. (I was so born in the wrong era.) Last summer, I decided to try my hand at repurposing/upcycling cool old stuff to sell with my purses. I told myself, as long as it was fun and enjoyable, I would keep at it. I had a ton of fun digging through antique shops, thrift stores, flea markets, and people's trash. (I did ask for permission first on the trash digging and washed my hands really good later! ha!) Then I set up a booth at our local farmer's market for the little stuff and took the bigger stuff to craft shows along with my purses. Our town isn't big on the junk thing. So, there wasn't any point in dragging the big heavy stuff to the farmer's market. That's a lot of work!But if you head north a little where there is an antique store on every corner...well, that's worth the extra work! At first, it was a lot of fun to decorate my booth and see the looks on people's faces when they checked out the things I had made. (They weren't all weird looks.) It made me feel good when someone loved their junky treasure as much as I did. But....after awhile it started to feel like "work." While I loved to create cool stuff for my own home, I didn't enjoy "having to" come up with new stuff to fill a booth at a show. It was a lot of pressure. So, I've decided to take a side road here, and see where it leads me. Since I love the hunting/shopping for treasures part so much, I am going to continue to do just that. I am in the process of setting up an Etsy store and I am going to "try" and sell some of the treasures I've found and will continue to find, for someone else to enjoy/make something out of. When I started selling my purses, I didn't have a clue how it was going to go. I remember ordering boxes and boxes of purses and Tim standing in the living room surrounded by 5,466 boxes and telling me that "this had better be good!" My first Open House was at our house. I had over 400 purses set up in every room on the lower level. It was jammed packed! I even had a few cowboy hats back then. (Hmmm...I kinda miss those hats. Might have to do that again...) Anyway, I had put an ad in the paper and I hung fliers around town. The day of the Open House, I kicked Tim and Landon out of the house and waited. The show started at 8:00 A.M. and at 8:10 no one had showed up. I called Tim almost in tears to tell him, it was a big flop. I felt just sick. I had so much money invested and as much as I loved purses, what the heck was I going to do with 400 of them?? BUT, then the cars started to pull up. And up! And up!! People were showing up!! They POURED into my house! It was crazy!! It seemed like every woman in town was at my house buying a purse! And eight years later....I'm still the bag lady and I still love purses. So, while I haven't a clue if this Etsy business is going to be a dead end or another beautiful scenic highway....one thing I do know. I have to try. Ready to go for a ride?

Landon's First Buck


He did it. Got his first buck, and he was quite happy about it! It was all I could do not to cry or puke taking this picture. (Now you can't tell me that tongue doesn't make you at least a little queasy!) Since Landon is quite the animal lover, I was silently praying that he wouldn't want to be a hunter. At best, I was hoping that after getting his first buck, he would feel bad and wouldn't want to go anymore. I just feel so sick inside when he is out there in the woods, with a gun. (And his dad who is known to fall asleep at the drop of a hat!) I try not to think about the "what ifs" and just let him be a good ol' Minnesota boy. But, it's so hard! I want to protect him and keep him safe, right here at home with me. Forever. Not gonna happen. He loved it! He called me on his dad's cell phone and said...

L: Mom! I did it! I got a buck!!
Me: No way.....you did? Oh, Landon...how exciting! (This is where I was hoping he was going to tell me he felt bad and was it o.k. if he didn't want to go anymore.... Didn't happen.)
L: It's HUGE mom!!! Huge!
Me: That's nice. Are you all done now? Are you coming home now?
L: Moooooommmm.....(I swear I felt him roll his eyes at me) No. I'm not coming home. We gotta get it gutted! Bye!!!!
Me: Bye...sob....sniffle....gulp....WAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!


Saturday, November 10, 2012

Movie Night!

Last night was movie night. Landon had won a free movie pass from Homer's so he picked out, "We bought a zoo." It was a great movie, but a little on the sad side. I would recommend a full box of Kleenex if you decide to check it out.

 
I do not recommend taking family pictures in the dark though.
We all look a little freaky!
But, licorice is always a good idea!


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

My View At The Stop Light



As long as I shall live, I will never get used to hunting. While everyone else is thinking what a lucky guy this is, I was sitting in my car holding back tears and bile. It just sucks. I posted the picture on facebook and someone said that the should have covered it up. Yes, I agree. It's the least they could have done. I hate it.

Life With Landon

Landon was really quiet last night, as I didn't hear any thumping on the ceiling...so I went to see what he was doing. He was making a cat hotel for his buddy, Lucky! It's closed at night because Lucky sleeps with him at night. (Need to brush up on his el/le's!)



He had pom pom balls in there, which Lucky loves and a little dish of cat food and water. (I will be taking the food and water back out after he goes to bed!)


 
I think they both like it! I think Landon might have a future as an engineer someday. Forgot to take pictures of the pully/bucket he built that would move a pail of cat food from his top bunk to the floor and back up again for Lucky. (Took that cat food away too. I'm the cat food police, I am.)
 
 
The hotel is now closed.
 
 
Lucky is all tucked in for the night.
 
 
And so is Landon. Nighty night boys. Sweet dreams.
 
 


Sunday, November 4, 2012

R.I.P. Kodak Easyshare

If you were wondering why I didn't post 3,498 pictures of the craft fair yesterday, it's because last week my camera passed away. Yep. Dead as a door nail. After dropping it 899 times (me) and throwing it across the room and bouncing it across the sidewalk 677 times (dc kids) it finally kicked the bucket. Wouldn't even turn on anymore. All I had for a camera was my phone camera and in all the excitement, I kinda forgot about pictures. (imagine that!) I've been doing dc for 8 years and I've been through 5 cameras. This time around, I've decided I am going to buy a better camera and cut back on the 5,667 daily pictures and take care of it! Anyway, today I headed to Alex to find a new camera. You know the new camera commerical that Ashton Kutcher is doing? Well, at the end of that commercial, it says "Water proof! Freeze proof! Drop proof!" or something like that. When I saw that, I literally jumped up off the couch and screamed, "SOLD!" Because I don't live in a town with a big box store, I had to wait a couple of days before I could go and get it. Kinda got a couple of ol' jobs I'm committed to, ya know? So finally, today was the day! My plan was to go to Office Max first. I knew they sold electronics and because they didn't sell pickles or diapers, I thought they would be the most knowledgeable. As I walked in to Office Max, I was greeted at the door by a young man. Off to a good start I thought, as those youngens seem to know a lot about the ol' technical gadgets. When he asked me what he could help me with, I told him about Ashton's commercial and that I was interested in that camera or one like it. He wasn't sure he had seen the commercial. Say what? Not a good start. Then he took me over to the camera department which consisted of six pieces of paper hanging on a rack with pictures of cameras and descriptions of what each one did. When he pointed to the paper and he said, "Well, we got these...." it was all I could do not to say, "Are you freakin' kidding me???" I swear I get every stupid customer service rep to live. I swear.... So, I thanked him for his time and walked out. I headed to Target next as I thought I might have better luck with their electronic department. Not that I have lost my love for Walmart, but I've been to Walmart's electronic department and I have to say, they aren't quite up to snuff over there. Well at Target, there was a wonderful young man who had the patience of Job. (He's a dude from the Bible. Look it up.) He answered all my questions and because he was so helpful and not only found a perfect camera for my needs, he also found one that was on sale!! Whoo hoo!! I ended up going with a Nikon COOLPIX L610. Not a top of the line, but not the bottom either. It takes super clear and up close pictures which is what I need for Etsy/Ebay and it also takes clear regular shots too! Here is a regular shot with no editing whatsoever. Even though I took it at night, with not much light in the room, you can still see every single word, clear as day. Now that's a nice camera. This is one of my favorite signs. It is hanging in the dc kid's playroom, where I see it as a daily reminder.

 
Amen.
R.I.P. Kodak.
Come on, Nikon.
Time to ride!!
 
 


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Wheaton Craft Fair Rocks Again!

WOW!!! The Wheaton Craft Fair ROCKED!! It was so crazy busy that I wasn't able to sit down even once today. I don't know if it was the warm weather that brought them all out or what, but it was wonderful! Don't get me wrong. Every year is wonderful, but this one was crazy wonderful! Let me share a little of my day with you.

In the morning, the vendors at the craft fair are given a lunch menu and if they turn it in early, the helpers will deliver their lunch to their booth for them. I filled mine out and handed it in. I requested a walking taco and a bottle of water. I thought the taco in a bag would be easy to eat and easy to set down if I was needed. I didn't get to eat it. There just wasn't a minute to spare. (That my friends is a good problem to have!) Luckily, my friend Jackie came by and out of the blue gave me a baggie with my two favorite candy bars in it. (Recess and Snickers) I gave her my taco and made the candy bars my lunch. I was so thankful for them as I was starving and I was hoping the Christmas music I was playing was loud enough to cover up the rumbling in my tummy. She saved the day. I owe her one. (or six)

One of the first things to go (Besides purses) was my sled! A lady came up to me and asked if she could pay for it and would I hold it for her. Because there were several people in line before her, I told her to just pay for it when she came back. About an hour before the show was over, she still had not come back. I was getting a little bummed as after she left, three other women wanted to buy it! Finally, at the end of the show, she showed up! All was well again. Sigh....

The highlight of the day was, my blinged up chalkboard/picture frame. I posted about it a few posts back... A sweet little old lady bought it. When I told her she could erase the Elizabeth Taylor quote I wrote and write anything on it, as it was a chalkboard, she told me that she loved Elizabeth Taylor and was leaving it! (I might be writing that quote on everything! ha!) Then when I told her that the "bling" was two clip on earrings and a dangle pearl bracelet, she said.....(This is the part I love) Shuuuuut Uuuuuup!!!
Yep. The little old lady told me to shut up.

Thank you everyone for making this year one of the best ever. I am blessed and I love you all!!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Saturday, October 27, 2012

My Potential Winnings

Check out what Lay's sent me today!

 
A chip clip.
Coupon for a free bag of chips.
And...
A $50 Visa gift card!!!
Whoo hoo!!
I am still patiently waiting for January 15th,
when they tell me one of my chip flavors is
one of the top three!!
Patiently. Kinda, sorta, maybe.


Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I'm A Winner! (Potentially)

A few weeks ago, my horoscope said I was gonna win big sometime between October and November. Well....awhile back, I entered a Lay's Potato Chip Contest where you had to come up with a cool new Potato Chip flavor. I entered about 7,777 times, more or less. Today, I received an email from Lay's telling me I was a winner! (Potentially) I had five days to reply and confirm receiving their email. It took me about five seconds. Then I got to wondering if any of my friends who also entered the contest had received the email. So, I posted it on facebook. (Of course I posted it on facebook.) They had not. Oh ,boy! Now I know that the email was probably a mass produced email intended for all who entered the contest and it's just a matter of time before everyone gets one, but in the meantime, it's fun to dream. Here's how it works. The judges will pick three top winners to be announced on January 15th. Then those three top flavors will be on all the shelves and it will be up to America to decide the winner by texting and voting for their favorite. (Kinda like American Idol, huh?) The winner will get a million bucks, (Potentially) and the two runner ups get $50,000 each. I could live with that. (Potentially)

Monday, October 22, 2012

The Swedish Cowgirl

I finally started another blog for just my purses and funky junk stuff. So, I now have a place to put it, where it belongs. Where it will feel at home.

If you would like to check it out, go to:

www.theswedishcowgirl.blogspot.com


I also have a facebook page under: The swedish cowgirl

I am also working on an Etsy Site too! But, that is a long and slow process. I'll keep you updated on that when it's ready to go.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Look Who's Driving!

Several years ago, when Landon was about 4 or 5, he jumped on Tim's riding lawn mower and took off across the yard, zigzagging all over but clearly heading straight for a huge tree. Tim had to ruuuun to catch him, (I was watching the whole thing through the window and trying hard not to throw up and laugh at the same time.) and just made it within seconds to stop the lawnmover before it plowed into the tree. Since then, I have not even suggested that Landon help Tim cut the grass with the riding mower. Just the push mower. Today, I looked out the window to see Landon calmly driving the riding lawn mower with Tim walking along aside of him explaining how to shift the gears. It brought tears to my eyes. How far he has come! He did a great job and only tried to go fast when he "thought" he was out of sight. I don't blame him. I'd do the same thing.

 
Not sure if you can see his tongue sticking out here.
That's a sign of serious concentration!
 
 
Taking the leaves to the trailer.
 
 
 
Happy Driver!

 


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

My Lucky Fisherman

 
Landon entered a contest for a fishing pole, and won!
He had to try it out right away last night.
Came home with a whole school of fish!
It's a lucky pole!


Monday, October 15, 2012

Hey, Burger King! I'm Mad At You.

I've got a beef. That's right. I've got a beef with Burger King. I used to love Burger King and it was the only place that I would go for my juicy, everybiteisdelicious, flame broiled, burger. As a chick who isn't all that crazy over meat, I had it bad for BK. Until recently. Seems like the last few times I patronized my favorite burger joint, the burgers sucked! At first I thought my burger wasn't cooked all the way, so I tried to return it. They assured me they were indeed thoroughly cooked, but replaced it anyway. It still sucked. I also noticed there weren't very many customers around either time I was there. I thought maybe it was just that BK that was having trouble.Then a couple of weeks ago, Tim and I were in the Swanville area. I spotted a BK and thought because it was so far away from my regular King, it wouldn't be the same. Wrong. It sucked. It was grey in color and tasted like a soy burger (Yes. I do know what a soy burger tastes like. Had way too many of them in my younger years, when my parents decided to be vegetarian's for a while. That sucked too.) Guess what else sucked? (That's the word for the day, folks. Suck.It's not a nice word, but I can't think of a better one that fits the bill for this.) The decor! As I was sitting there eating only my fries because the burger made me gag, I started to look around. I was transported back in time. To the 80's it seemed. Here. See for yourself.

 
Which do you like better?
The blue, glass blocks.
Or
The Pink and peach plastic flowers?
The green plant is plastic too.
 
 
 
Or maybe the blue and white floral border
and styrofoam ceiling tiles
are getting your groove on more?
 
 
 
Anyway, while I was waiting for Tim to finish his burger, (He still liked his. He will eat anything.) I started to think...(I know, it always gets me in trouble. But, I do it anyway.) surely I can't be the only one who thinks something is up with the burgers. So, I whipped out my cell phone and hopped on the Internet. (I love my cell phone!) and GOOGLED... (I love GOOGLE too!) "What the he** is up with BK's sucky (I'm on a roll here today folks.) burgers???" Guess what? I was not alone! Apparently the rest of the world (or a lot of it anyway) is wondering the same thing. The most popular explanation was that they are no longer flame broiling them, (As I read that, I instantly noticed that the wonderful charcoal smell that we always associate with BK was missing! Come to think of it, I don't think I smelled it at the other BK those days my burger sucked either.) because the price of gas is too high and they can't afford it. So they are pre-cooking the burgers at the factory and then at BK they keep them warmed up in a friggin' bun warmer until you order one! Those little charcoal lines on the burger? They are PAINTED on! OMG. I am so over BK. I just didn't need to know that. But, that's what happens when I start thinking....
You know what I think? (Yeah, I'm gonna tell ya.) I think they can't afford not to flame broil. If they went back to flame broiling (I know it's just deadly gas and deadly to eat, but so are Twinkies and we aren't stopping that now, are we?) they just might be able to win their customers back. And maybe, just maybe, they can upgrade that decor over in Swanville. It's a win/win folks. A win/win.
 
 
 


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Ebay, Baby!

 If you go back a few posts to my cast iron post, in the middle of the table is a dark turquoise, mermaid boot jack. I listed this boot jack on Ebay Tues. night and was shocked to wake up Wed. morning to find that it had sold! (I added a "buy it now" option.) I am currently working on an Etsy store, but it takes a lot of work to get that set up and it's a slooooow process. Pictures, descriptions, prices....I will let everyone know when it is ready to go, someday....Anyway, I was impatient and wanted to see how it would go on Ebay as that is a quick process. I was really excited with my quick sale and decided to post a few other items and they haven't moved. At all. DISAPPOINTMENT! I can see that I have a few "watchers" so I am afraid they are going to bid the low price at the last minute and I will be forced to sell my items at that crazy low cost. I don't like that. At all. I can see how Ebay could become addicting and depressing all at the same time. If that happens, then I will either drop Ebay all together or list buy it now only prices. Either way, I am still going to stick with my Etsy store and slowly but surly get it all put together. I like the fixed prices and no bidding part. A lot! If it's a flop...well it will just be one more wilted feather to stick in my cowgirl hat. There are quite a few in there already, but I am proud of each and everyone of them. No one can say I didn't try. Stay calm and list it.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

My One And Only Rebel Child

A couple of weeks ago, I received a call from Landon's gym teacher. She told me that after talking with Landon and another boy, this is the story that came out from the two of them. Believe me, I wanted to interrupt her a couple of times and say, "Are you suuuuure that's the way it happened?" but, I did not. As hard as it was for me, I kept my mouth shut and I listened. Here is the story...

During gym (for the sake of the privacy of the other boy, we will name the other boy, "Fred.") Fred stepped on the back of Landon's shoe. Fred admitted that the first time was an accident, but then he decided to do it again. Landon asked him to stop. (I am having a hard time with that part. I envision more of a "Knock it off!" but, this is the gym teacher's story, not mine.) Fred did not stop. He kept stepping on the back of Landon's shoes.  It was then that Landon threw Fred to the ground and started punching him. (I can see this.) They were then hauled to the Principal's office, where they told their stories and it was decided that their punishment would be that they would have to sit on the wall at recess for three days. (I agreed and was so thankful they weren't expelled!)

When I hung up the phone, I have to admit I had a few mixed feelings. On one hand, I hate that Landon had to be involved in a fight, and that it was bad enough to be hauled to the Principal's office. But, on the other hand...while I certainly don't approve of violence, I am proud of Landon for asking Fred to stop the first time. That showed maturity. I am also proud of Landon for sticking up for himself. Even if it wasn't in an appropriate manner, I am relieved to know he can take care of himself. In a crazy, immature way, I'm kinda proud that my kid can kick ass! ( I can't help it. It's the redneck in me!) Yeah, yeah, I know. There goes the Mother Of The Year Award for me. Again.




Wednesday, October 3, 2012

That Time Of Year Again....

I detest politics! Detest, I say! Normally, I don't even bother listen to the debates, but tonight I decided to give it a whirl. I. Am. Not. Impressed. One sounded like a pie in the sky simpleton and the other was just spinning his wheels. Saying the same thing, over and over. Kinda like the "two" stooges.
 Anyway... I jokingly posted on facebook night...

 "I think Oprah should run for president. She could just whip out a check and take care of the debt, revive her talk show to create 3,445,333 jobs for the unemployed and broke, send goodie baskets of her "favorite things" to the rich folk, so they don't feel left out and send the middle class to Australia for the time of their lives!! Get 'er done! :) :) :) (I'm just teasing now, lighten up!)"

Seriously, it doesn't have to be Oprah, but a third choice would be nice. Really. Not digging the options here. Kinda like trying to decide to vote for Jethro or Jed, or Curly or Moe. Third choice, please. Third choice.

Dipping My Toes In Cast Iron

Recently I was browsing the internet looking for something to hang my purses on, and I stumbled across a cute cast iron hook site. I was going to order a few, but then I stopped and thought, "Hey...I'm pretty creative. I could totally do this myself!" So I checked out a few wholesalers and ordered a box full. Of course not only did I order too many, I loved them so much I ordered more and different ones too! I painted them up, roughed them up, (to give them a cute shabby look) and took them to the farmer's market and my purse shows to sell. They did really well. Now, I'm thinking I might need to try Ebay or Etsy with and maybe some of my other junk stuff, but, I'm scared. I don't know why. I think the shipping part scares me the most. The "unknown." All the "what if's." I know I am certainly smart enough to figure it all out, but I keep dragging my feet. I have a good friend who sells on Ebay and she tells me there's nothing to it. So, what's my problem? I honestly don't know. Do you ever feel like that? Is there something that you really want to do, have no reason not to do it, but still don't do it? Someone please shove me into the pool. I need to get my feet wet.

 

 
A really bad picture using my camera phone.
If you click on the picture
 it should open up to a large view.


Friday, September 28, 2012

I'm Out Of Space

As I was posting the last two pictures on the next post, a box popped up saying, "I was out of space." I could either purchase more space or my pictures would be posted in a smaller size. I am opting for the smaller size for now. (I can't complain too much though as this is a free blog and I've been posting for four years!) If you click on the picture, it will pull up another page and show the picture in a really nice big size. So, that will have to do for now. I thought if I deleted a few pictures from the first year (I have the whole year published into a hard covered book, so it was alright if I didn't actually have them on here too.) that it would make more room. Not so. I should have researched that idea first. Anyway, for now the pictures will be smaller. Unless another box pops up saying they changed their minds and I need to pay up! I'll pay up. I love my blog and now that summer is over, things will slow down and I can get back into it. It's been a crazy summer. I am ready to slow things down a bit and just coast....for a bit. Just a bit.