decorating for Christmas

"This is the best tree we've ever had!"  It's the same thing we say every year.  I think it has to be true this year, though.  Steve picks out the nicest trees.  It's perfect.

This evening was especially pretty.  I don't know why.  I tried not to spend anything on decorations this year.  So, I got creative.  I took my short strings of lights (25 bulbs) and put them under my white milk glass dishes.  They are lined up on the piano.

The dishes I chose have a scalloped edge so the string of lights can run under the edge.  I wouldn't want the dish to be uneven!  That would drive me crazy.  There is a power strip under the garland.

Pretty ornaments...

Ben's log cabin...

I like to wrap as early as possible so I can enjoy the pretty packages.

Ok.  I can't say that this was a success, but I learned what not to do for next year!  I have a collection of bird ornaments and I like the idea of a 'stick tree'.  Hmmm...not exactly what I was after but it's kinda cute. 

I love decorating with strings of lights.  I'm always looking for containers that have holes or cut-outs so I can run a string of lights out of it and to an outlet.

I have not mastered taking pictures in the dark!  I took the boughs that Steve cut from the bottom of our tree and put together little greenery arrangements. Simple.

Steve does such a good job with the lights outside.  Simple and pretty.  He decorated another evergreen this year.  It's very very pretty.

Amanita Design

I was on an excellent academic website at work today with my kids in speech therapy.  BBC bitesize has some interesting and entertaining activities targeting specific academic skills.  The UK has excellent educational sites and most are free.

As I was waiting for a group of kids to arrive for their session, I clicked on the game, Questionaut, at the bottom of the homepage. I'm always on the lookout for games that: elicit lots of talking, target specific skills, are entertaining, creative, and lovely. That last one is for me. They are not easy to come by. For every 20 websites/activities I review I bookmark maybe one.

I was lifted out of my seat by the graphics and design of this particular game. Not only is it intriguing for kids, but the images are striking and the music lovely. After only a few minutes, I googled Amanita Design, creator of the game. I will be exploring this independent design studio a lot more in the future. 

Amanita Design blog  

Instagram

Cool free app for the iphone... Instagram

Wish I had an iphone...

It’s a fast, beautiful and fun way to share your life with friends through a series of pictures.

Snap a photo with your iPhone, choose a filter to transform the look and feel, send to Facebook, Twitter or Flickr – it’s all as easy as pie. It’s photo sharing, reinvented.

Oh yeah, did we mention it’s free?

our place

I'm attempting the daunting task of organizing HUNDREDS of photos.  I don't think I have a good system for storing and organizing photos because whenever I go looking for a particular shot, I end up feeling very frustrated!  As I was sorting through some recent photos, I found these that I had taken of our place on a beautiful fall day.  Although they weren't the photos I was looking for, I couldn't help but stop and linger over these photos of our home.  Soooo thankful for our 3 acres....

The combination of blue, black, gray, and white was striking.

Our driveway.  You can see our barn peeking out through the trees.  Look at the sky!

Our address...17004 152nd St NE.

funny puppy...lounging on the warm patio bricks.  He loves us so much.

pretty kitty....

I hope this barn outlives me.  I really can't imagine this place without it.

a little closer look...

Heaven on earth.

Happy Thanksgiving

I looked through my favorite blogs trying to find a beautiful Thanksgiving quote or an amazing image to share.  Didn't find what I was looking for.  So, I'm sharing an amazing image from our yard.  This rose, "Hope for Humanity", grows near our patio.  I have to admit that it isn't my favorite and I've considered moving this plant to another location as it takes up a prime spot!  But it's a lot of work to properly move a mature plant (it's about 5 years old) and so my laziness earned this rose another season in it's current location.  As the summer progressed, this rose grew at a surprising rate.  By Fall, it had doubled in size from the previous summer!  The stem in the photo is almost 6' tall and was covered with blooms--amazing!  It continued to bloom into November!   On the morning that I took this photo, frost covered our yard and the roses as they continued to bloom and thrive.  So, "Hope for Humanity" may get to stay right where it is.  Moral of the story?  ...be lazy (just kidding) ...be patient :)

I'm thankful for our beautiful world that is endlessly mysterious...

*Happy Thanksgiving*

Quote of the Week

Love this.

Found it when I was reading through Key Lime Digital Designs blog.  I'm a sucker for inspirational quotes in 10 words or less.  :)

Two Door Cinema Club

This is the cool song I was blogging about a couple of days ago.  Now that my Mumfords, and Crash Kings are properly archived, I will share this group and song!  I love it.

Don't know A THING about these guys but I've listened to a few of their other songs and they are really good.  I created a "Two Door Cinema Club" station on Pandora and the music selection was really interesting.  Lots of groups that I hadn't heard of but I really like their sound.

CRASH KINGS

Just read my son's blog.  He recently wrote about another favorite band of mine (and his!).  CRASH KINGS is an amazing group with so many cool songs.  This one is my favorite ...

Mumford and Sons

I recently heard a really cool song and after many attempts to track it down (thank you, Sam:)), I finally found it!  I was going to link their video here when I realized that I hadn't blogged about THE BEST GROUP EVER!!! That actually crossed my mind...how could I blog about so-and-so when Mumford and Sons had never been featured on my blog?! :)


Mumford and Sons was an obscure band in the US (according to me anyway) when I first heard them on NPR one late winter evening.  I knew there was something special about them but it was only after researching them a little more and listening to more of their music that I realized how special this talented group of men are.  They are much more popular now, of course,  since itunes released their album, "Sigh No More", in the US in Feb. 2010.  I was counting down the days and bought the album the day it became available.  This song is so much fun and the video is great!


There.  My Mumfords are archived forever in my blog.  It's about time. :)

guess what...

I have a lot to say!

...and I love blogging!!

It has been almost a month since I've posted ANYTHING and I've missed it terribly.  There are these stretches of time that seem to go on forever when I feel that I have very little control of my time.  It is stressful.  And I just cruised through one.  Not pleasant but I'm afraid they are necessary inevitable!  At the end of 2 extremely busy weeks, there is a new appreciation for ordinary days.  We are blessed, I know, by a very busy life.  Lots of activities, friends, family, and interests...blessings.  And now I settle into an ordinary week and regenerate.  

I'm smiling.  Why do I feel so comfortable?  So engaged?  Why do I love blogging so much? :)

Eyes on Sam

Sam had his one and only home Cross Country meet August 29.  School hadn't even started yet!  Sam did a great job preparing and finished 10th!   Today, Oct 26, the CC team leaves for Ricori for the regional competition.  Thought this would be a good day to organize and post some pictures.

Sam is the tall guy on the right side.

I love this shot.

...and this one.  I was just using Sam's little samsung camera to take these photos.  They actually turned out pretty good!

At the end of his run, there were tears.  Sam shared tears with his dad as they missed grandpa at the finish line.  Grandpa would have been there... cheering Sam's name, hands in the air, smile on his face .....his eyes on Sam.

And then there are friends.  What a great group of kids these are!

thank you, dear friend

A friend of mine shared this reading with me ...


I didn’t know what to pray. So, I just prayed for God to open doors, or for Him to close them. I would be content with either outcome.

I kept expecting closed doors. And God kept opening them.

Imagine my surprise when God blew away my meager expectations with his amazing grace and his incredible generosity.

Why did I expect less than that? 

I think I prepare myself for “less than” in order to avoid crushing disappointment.

God opened one door after another, in only a way that He could. Not only that, but he blew open the doors in a big way, bigger than I could have ever hoped or imagined.

And I praise God for knowing the desires of my heart, and for blessing me with them, despite me not believing he would. I knew that he could, but would he? Why would we deserve this blessing? Why would God give us such an incredible gift?

It is not because of works. We don’t deserve this any more than anyone else. It’s not because we have more faith, or better prayers. It’s not us at all. It was an act of God. Completely and totally.

blessed are those

 found this in a blog I read...some images and messages are too important or too beautiful to leave behind.  and so I capture them and keep them.

the day he left

Ben left for college 2 months ago.  Hard to believe.  He's coming home tonight for the weekend and we anxiously wait.  The day he left, I took a bunch of pictures and I'm finally taking a closer look at them and getting them organized.  It wasn't an easy day.  I remember the pit in my stomach and the ache in my heart.  Once he left, the anxiety eased but then there was sadness.  Dropping him off and leaving him... no words. 

The week before he left was crazy.  Crazy with activity and emotions.  The day finally came.

....getting ready to head out the door.  :( 

 Had to take a picture of our car full of his stuff!  Ben's car was also full.

 Copper always knows when someone is leaving.  He kept a close eye on us and stayed near.

 He got a little closer to Emily.  Maybe he could make them stay if he sat on her feet!

Ben's car is full and almost ready to go. 

 Sweet kids.  Do you know how much I hated to see you go...

Had to take a shot of them in Ben's car as they prepared to drive down the road.  It was exciting!  I was just so sad.  Emily rode with Ben down to Fargo and then rode home with us.  She didn't start school for another week!

 And there they go.  No words...

I'm glad he's happy and I'm glad I don't feel like throwing up anymore.  I'm glad that he isn't so far away and that he will be home tonight.

a video for mommas and the families they love

I'm captivated by Amy Krause Rosenthal.  This video was especially moving to me ... her words captured the feelings in my heart perfectly.

KINDNESS

Kindness Thought Bubble

This is a short film/meditation on the power of kindness. Animated and produced by the Toronto-based design firm Thought Bubble. Written and narrated by Amy. Original music by Nick Gage.

Selected Best Animated Film at 2011 Peace on Earth Film Festival

Go to Amy Rosenthal's website and click on Amy's videos to view more videos.  It looks like she has a lot of other good stuff!

Last Home Game

Isaac, #85, watching from the sidelines with his friend, Carter.  This is the last home game for the 8th grade football team.  We played Crookston and Isaac had the chance to play quarterback.  He usually plays tight end.

Steve is standing behind Isaac.  Steve often held the down marker during games.

Isaac is on the far left preparing to call for the ball.

Here he passed and it was incomplete.

Next pass...touchdown!!

Game over.  Prowlers beat Crookston 30-0.  Isaac also ended up running the ball in for a touchdown when he could not find anyone to pass the ball to.  Woo-hoo!

End of the home games for the 8th graders.  Fun kids...fun season.

....and then there's the fan section!  What would we do without our devoted fans :)