Little church on the Prairie

I love my husband!! There are many reasons why, but two of them come to mind at this moment. One reason is he loves, loves, loves road trips!! (And so do I! You just never know when or where we will go.) The other reason is he will turn the minivan around and go back if I have see something interesting. Like on a reason adventure I spotted this church in the distance, on a hill top in the middle of nowhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As soon as I saw the church my mind went back to one of my favorite TV programs, Little House on the Prairie. (Heehee, it's a little church on the prairie. ) This is St Paul's Lutheran Church est. 1889. And yes, they still have an outhouse (it is just out of the shot in the bottom photo, to the right.)
I used the Jillibean Soup Dutch Mustard collection for my layout. The embellishments are form Jillibean too.

I used some copper Perfect Pearls Mist on my cardstock (I'm loving those mists!!) I have a few more pictures I want to get scrapped from our weekend adventure, those should be coming soon.
Thanks for stopping by!!
Until later~

Wild Buffalo

Last Saturday the family loaded up for one of our "Road trip adventure" days. We drove to Medora, an old west tourist town. Most shops closed after Labor Day, but that really wasn't the reason we headed that direction. We wanted to see the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Our goal was to see some elk and some wild buffalo. Not sure where the elk were hiding, but we were not disappointed in the buffalo. We saw a couple herds of buffalo, and several loners.
 The first group we came upon I was so excited to get pictures that I jumped out of the truck. It wasn't until Hailey wanted out so she could get pictures that I had second thought about my sanity. LOL They are very big  and strong animals, and well, they are wild!! :-)
(I will save the stories about all the other animals we saw for another day.)
Cheryl posted a challenge for a group of us scrappers, and my buffalo pictures worked for what I had in mind. She posted a Bingo Challenge. You pick the line you want to do and then make your layout or card.
Here is what we had to work with:

 I was a little limited in what I could use, because after all I was scrapping buffalo. LOL I picked the very top row. Easy, right? Well, not really, 10 buttons, 9 looked perfect to me, but I needed to use 10. Aha, while fiddling around I solved that problem, I stacked two buttons together, 10 for the price of 9. LOL
 And stickles or glitter!!?? Hum, not what I think of when I think of buffalo. :-) I did use stickles, on the little hearts on the vertical strip beside my photos. Now, you want to see, right? (Don't forget to click the photos to make them bigger)

Hailey loved the momma buffalo and her baby. (We did see 2 smaller babies, and she went crazy over them!! LOL)

My embellishment cluster.

The stacked buttons.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until later~

Peaceful Sunday

Thanks for stopping by!!
Until later~

One day of greatness

Two weeks ago Hunter brought a slip of paper home from school. Grades 1-5 would be playing football on Saturday morning. When I asked Hunter if he wanted to play he told me no, he was afraid of getting hurt. Nothing more was said about the football game until that Friday night, you guessed it, he changed his mind and wanted to play.
We got to the field and Hunter didn't want to get out there with the other boys (and one girl, boy was she quick and tough!!) Finally he joined the others on the field. And just as I thought it was a friendly game of flag football.... BUT Hunter had never played flag football, the only football this kid has seen is rough and tumble TACKLE football. The first couple of plays my boy was tough as nails defending his man, (read as... hanging around that big kid's neck trying to get him down!! LOL) He did get the hang of FLAG football after a few plays. (Thank goodness!!)

He looks like a real football player, huh? 

 Getting his flag re-attached.

They played for an hour. Hunter got out there and had fun.... but on the way home he told us he was done with football!! LOL I am so glad he gave it a try. And I am soooo happy he is done with football.... for now anyway!! :-)

(The other boys are still playing flag football on Saturday mornings, but not Hunter! Three days after the game he broke his arm! His may be one of the shortest football careers ever!! LOL)

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until later~

Book Review- Stumbling into Grace

Lisa Harper uses both modern day stores and Bible scriptures to address some of life’s biggest issues dealing with God’s grace.  Stumbling into Grace displays the author’s wonderful sense of humor and how she relates it back to scripture.

I found Stumbling into Grace to be very encouraging while faced with a life that is not playing out as I had planned.  It was very refreshing to see God’s Word in a way that that was made more personal because of Lisa’s wonderful sense of Humor. Although her snake story did cause me to shiver!! J I found myself chuckling as I identified with the personal stories, and occasionally wondering how I had missed different points she made about scripture. (For example while on the cross is the only time Jesus called God, My God instead of Father.)

 I feel that Stumbling into Grace is a book that females will more easily identify with and I highly recommend it. I think anyone dealing with the ups and downs of life with is encouraged and uplifted by Lisa Harper’s writing.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

My new studio (picture heavy!!)

 I am so happy to finally say I am "settled." The house is unpacked and things are in their places. (I am sure I will tweak and adjust- I do need to find room for a bunch of kitchen stuff, for good reason. Hubby is going to install a dishwasher!! More time for other things, right?)
 Today I am going to share a tour of my new studio. (You can see my "Ohio Studio" HERE)
I got the studio done yesterday, except for hanging my ink holders and carrying a couple of things out to the garage.

This is my new crafty space.

I think this cabinet is going to be one of my most favorite pieces in the room. There is lots of storage (the little Cricut, Jukebox, Gypsy, photos, an odds and ends storage container and fabric are under there), and the counter top is the perfect surface to use for stamping. (Not to mention easy to clean. LOL) My stamps are stored in CD cases. I filled 3 of the CD storage thingies from the container store. When I looked last week to add more, I was very sad to see they are no longer available!! (Darn Ipods!!)

Ribbon spools fit nicely in the narrow shelves, and it is so handy to have my ribbon out and ready for use.

My 12 x12 cardstock is in trays hubby bought at the Local Scrapbook Store. 

The sterlite container to the left made a nice place for the Cricut Expression, now it is not on my counter, like it was before.

I wasn't sure if I would be using the Elfa system, I love the texture treatment on the walls, and didn't want to put the supports in the walls. Hubby got bust and hung it before I could protest. LOL (And I am so happy he hung it!! SSSHHH, don't tell him that he was right, I really do need it. LOL)

When we purchased the Elfa system I went with the wire shelves for 2 reasons- one, it allows more light for the space underneath. And the second thing is Clip It Up clips work perfectly to hung things, making the bottom of the shelves usable too. (I up-cycled the containers that my unmounted stamps come in for storage.)

See that huge white cabinet on the right? (I know how could you possibly miss it! LOL) That was a bargain from Lowes. (I got it for 1/3 of the price because it was the last one in stock and the box was opened.) I wanted to add another one just like it, so last weekend we took a little road trip. There are only 2 Lowes stores in North Dakota. :-) So we drove 2 hours to the one in Bismarck. They had the display model..... and that was it, no more in stock!! It took me 1.7 seconds to spy "plan B." I am sure that even if the cabinet had been there I would have opted the shelf instead. As you can see it is HUGE too, and each shelf will hold 350 pounds!! Whoa, that is a lot of paper!! (The second shelf is where I keep my Papertrey Ink cardstock.)

Just around the corner, on the linen closet is an over the door shoe holder. More odds and ends in there.

I love all of the light that these windows let in!!
I have had that table ever since I sold Amish made Oak furniture. It is a 54" square, hopefully I will have enough room to spread out. LOL

Another look at the table.

And last but not least- a little sneak peek!! :-)

So, when are you coming over so we can break this room in?? :-)

I need to run now, the studio is calling my name. LOL

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until later~

Frist day of school

This is Hunter's first day of First Grade picture. He actually missed the first 2 days of school because we was driving to North Dakota. Hunter is loving his new school!! There are 21 First graders.... total!! (Last year there was 90 Kindergerteners in his school!) There are a few differences other than class size, he has physical education every day, there are no school fees, his supply list included just the basics (no copy paper, trash bags or other things the school needs to operate) lunch costs half as much and he has not had to sell one thing yet!! LOL
He has been taking several tests each week. (The night before his first test he was praying that he would be sick the next morning. LOL) He is doing very well, and the teacher said he has adjusted well. In ND they use block print and last year Hunter's school used the other print. (Oh, what is the name of the "loopy" print??)
 Another change to our school schedule this year is that Hailey now attends Preschool. (Her class is just across the hall from Hunter's class.)

This is sister's first day of school picture. She LOVES school!! She is in class with 10 other children- there are 9 girls and 2 boys in her class!! She goes 2 days a week for 3 hours each day. I am not sure what all they do, but whatever it is wears her out. LOL She wants to go to school everyday! :-)
 Once I get everything unpacked I am hoping to use my time while the kids are in school as my creative time! We will see how that goes. :-)
Thanks for stopping by!!
Until later~