Happy 2010!!!

A project for you...

Take a big ugly picture-one with no glass...

cover with pretty paper you like.

(I used glue/water)

I was going to use this as an inspiration or photo board upstairs in my craft room but decided it would look pretty right here with one of my saved calendar pictures.
I applied the water/glue solution over the top and probably will add another coat. I will not glue the butterfly picture in case I want to change that or use it for a photo board later. It was a fun way to use some of my scrapbook paper, especially since I don't scrapbook!

I spent almost the entire day yesterday cleaning and reorganizing the craft room upstairs. I can now call it a craft room and not a junk room. I'd say it is 90% finished and that is a great feeling!

Christmas Break

Hope you are relaxing and enjoying your Christmas break. The Smith Christmas had to be postponed due to all the snow(23 inches!) total down in Jackson and Sioux Falls. Our roads haven't been that great either. So we have that to look forward to next weekend instead.
I like this kitchen but the tile wouldn't work with our countertops.

A fun idea for next year??

A cozy kitchen and peek into a pantry.

Like the subway backsplash~hope to pick it out this week.

Merry Christmas!!!

I forgot how much fun Picnik is! We are looking forward to celebrating with our families. We can't wait to see everyone! It will all go too fast! Have a wonderful and safe Holiday Season.

Christmas around our house

This little snowman was given to me, years ago, from one of my first graders. I think it's so sweet and creative. The arms are made of copper wire and so is his hat. I see I need to dust up here, hmmmmm.
I LOVE this towel-found it while working at the Bargain Bazaar last summer.
After this picture, I moved the pine way to the left and right. I don't want you to worry about me setting our house on fire. :)

Shopping

Mom and I are meeting Nancy in St. Cloud tomorrow to do a little Christmas shopping and lunch. I don't have a lot to shop for so not a lot of pressure. Both of our families focus more on just getting together now.

My tart cookies did not come out of their little tins very well. It may be a LONG time if I ever make them again. I must put mints on my list for tomorrow so I can make Dan's new favorite cookies.

It was a very fast week at school! Can't believe it's Friday already. My staffing had a very desirable outcome this morning. Thank goodness!!!!

Have a great weekend!

December Reading

This is our December book club selection and I highly recommend it! Rosemary bought it for Mom's birthday and Mom enjoyed it so I suggested it for book club and it was picked for the very next month. We are meeting next Thursday, but I've heard good feedback already. I really liked this book and I think all of my "blog fans" out there would too. Kris is also reading it and enjoying it as well. It's historical fiction about the German occupancy of Guernsey Island which is one of the Channel Islands off of France. It's a collection of letters that altogether tell a painful but inspirational story.
My book club REFUSES to read any more books written by David Sedaris, so I must read them on my own. Nancy and Shari are both fans of his and so is our head public librarian so he can't be that bad. I enjoy his humorous short stories, some are hilarious. Christmas on Ice was one of the books I had my book club try for the second time and that didn't go over either. Engulfed in Flames his newest and I have three stories under my belt, none of which I find offensive at all.

Christmas baking

I don't have any new pictures to show you, so here are some I've collected on the web. In the last couple of years I haven't done a lot of baking but with yesterday's cold weather it just seemed like time. Yesterday, I made Russian Tea Cakes and Peanut Star Blossoms. I thought the Blossoms were Dan's favorites, but he informed me he has a new favorite...Shari's mint cookies. Luckily, they aren't too difficult to make. Tonight, I made Pecan Tassies. I love them but now remember how tedious they are, especially to get out of their little tins. I got about a dozen out and the rest need to cool more-at least I hope that does the trick.

I have had a lot of meetings lately. Today, I started and ended my day with one. We have a reading comprehension group that has been meeting all fall and I think we are almost done. It has been a very worthwhile way to spend my time, we're not getting paid but can get cont. ed. clock hours for it.
I love this black hutch. I have thoughts about painting our white pine hutch but am chicken, plus like Dan reminds me, there's plenty of other painting to do around here.
I like the white pottery pictured here. This summer I picked up a bunch of neat white pieces (most were Haagar) at a rummage sale up in Hibbing-dirt cheap-fun!!
Besides baking, I actually made a craft recently too! Remember those little notepads I posted a week or so ago? I bought a six pack at Wal-Mart and found some pretty scrap paper-very easy and it felt so good to do a project again that wasn't house related. Besides that, I've been doing a little more Christmas decorating and continue to clean up and reorganize remodel piles.

School is going fine. The good days outnumber the bad and I am finding ways to reduce my paper work. On Friday, we will find out if a certain child in my room will get the help he needs, if not, I may need a very long term sub. There are only 10 days 'til Christmas break-but who's counting?!???

From the Outside

When I was taking pictures of the moon, I tried a picture of the interior from the outside. This is how I figured out how to take a picture without flash to eliminate the window glare. It helped later with a moon picture too. Have you ever gone walking or riding bike in the evening and enjoyed a glimpse into the homes of others? I know some of you do, because I've done it with you!!! As long as you keep walking and stay on the sidewalk it's not a crime! :)

Countertops!!

We put these hunter green laminate counters in the first year we lived here. Royce put them in for us in fact. I have always been very happy with them. They were in very good shape and it seemed a shame to part with them.
However, I am totally in love with my new counters, ugly backsplash and all!

When we ordered these, we were able to get a free sink and counter edge upgrade. We did a beveled edge and chose a large single sink. Not sure if I'll miss the double sink-ask me in a couple of months.

So, now tell me what you think we should do for the tile backsplash? We have a couple ideas, one is an off white subway tile-nice and simple. Another idea is to go with a smoky grayish brown glass tile-not too dark. I will have to research kitchen photo's online this week. Also, any tips on hiding ugly cords on your countertops? My old method was to put vintage trays up around the perimeter but I'd like a cleaner look now.