Wonderful Wednesday

Well I think the Video driver crashed on this here old computer because we have lost all images or ability to pull them up etc..

We just have to use the old imagination to see the pictures.

Today is typical gray sky and snowing here in western NY

The house is quiet let the keys on the keyboard clicking, the hum of the processor and a cat crunching on some dry food.

Kids are still asleep let for Yoda who is the early riser. hoping that Slugger sleeps in after an active winter camping weekend and sleepover to follow - massive outside + massive electronic overload and little sleep = grumpy/quiet child.

In the kitchen . . . . some baking to be had- Bread and cookies are on the list. A cherry chocolate dump cake for a Scout function tomorrow.

Plans for the day . . . bowling, ice skating at the local free frozen Basketball court, maybe swimming . . . . follow up on some work, scouting and stamping items. Hoping Slugger gets to work on his quilt for a teacher and some Merit Badge work.

We are learning . . . . about Thailand as we went out for Thai cuisine last night.

I am working on creating swaps for a Stampin Up Regional Conference being held next Fri./ Sat. also some invites for Yodas Birthday!!

So before this crashes too - I will sign off for another day.

All my postcards went in the mail, I received 3 yesterday - another from England, Texas and Penn. all are so much fun!!! Especially to get mail!!

Weekending in Adirondacks

Winter at its best or at least trying. We are usually complaining about to much snow but this year we are light on the snow. We are getting Lake Effect but not many big storms, they are all going south of us. It was -3 the first night sleeping out.

Snow shoeing and winter Mountain Climbing occupied the daylight. Cooking, laughing were nighttime pastimes. Everyone came home sleeping!


The Ice wall was very cool. Lots of exploring to be had.
Nature is just as awesome in the winter as in the Summer.

Get out and enjoy it!!!

Walking Quotes

Walking: One asks what I do to relieve stress- have a lot of that these days . . . . the answer is simple, I walk. ( well eat too:) )






If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. ~Raymond Inmon


A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world. ~Paul Dudley White


Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. ~Henry David Thoreau

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. ~John Muir


Thoughts come clearly while one walks. ~Thomas Mann


In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~John Muir


Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. ~Soren Kierkegaard

Derby Days

Well Pinewood Derby 2010 was yesterday. If I can get the camera to up load I will have more "finished" pictures.


Our Cub Scout Den was in charge of the event so it was a family affair.

Yoda built a James Bond 007 car to race this year. After the white coat in these pictures came black trim for widows and lights etc.. We had trouble getting it to weigh 5.0 but in the end we did. No weight needed to be added.

There were all kinds of cars, colors shapes, paint jobs, a few that were just raw wood as well.

We all had jobs the night of the race and were glad when it was over!!

It is a good experience for the boys in doing a creative project that has a competitive component as well as learning a little Physics behind speed, incline and weight.

Clay Mask

Just a little Studio in Art taking over the dining room while History day is in the living room and Pinewood derby is in the kitchen!!!
Love the colors and detail in this piece of art.

Butterfly Quilt

This Quilt is finally finished. Quilts go in stages:

• Collect fabrics
• Cut fabrics
• Stitch blocks
• Decide you need more blocks
• Cut and sew more
• let them rest for awhile - kinda like letting bread rise.
• Sew them into rows and into a top.
• let it rest again
• Decide on borders
• Sew borders on
• let it rest
• Get backing
• Stitch backing together
• Press backing
• Press top
• Layer the 3 and baste
• Let rest
• Quilt it
• let rest
• Cut and sew binding
• Press binding
• Stitch binding to top
• Hand sew binding

It is always fun in any stage but especially when it is DONE! This is s simple 4-patch with smaller squares sewed to the corners to make the triangles.

Birthday Muse's

Some People try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved. Will Rogers


Well this is the beauty that we will be salivating over tonight. It is a Flourless Chocolate Cake which you can find the recipe if you follow the attached link to everyone's favorite baker King Arthur! My sweet husband has made this for me during a very hectic week. You see it is Pinewood Derby week in Cub Scouts and his Den is in charge of the Race. They have to have practices every night and the race is on Friday. Yoda made a James Bond 007 car this year, will post some on that later.

Birthdays - you can love them or hate them. I usually don't mind them, they come more often than I would like them too!! My favorite way to celebrate though is to do things that I like and not things I don't - ie sort socks . . . I don't need a lot of hoopla, parties and people. Quiet is ok. This morning there was a lot of hustle and bustle with all the boys. They did chores, made lunches and breakfast- Cherry swirl coffee cake, oranges hot tea, all before the 7 am Bus- it was very nice. I not only have traveled unpaved roads- I have hit a few potholes!! it is through experience that we learn best- learn by doing and it is through adversity that we really stretch and grow, so the road is not always easy and often long but hopefully the destination at the end is well worth the bumpy ride. Have a great day!! I will.