preparing for a winter camp

and no, it isn't a family trip. scouts only, thank goodness.

a bit late

a snapshot of Morgen's science project:

I remember...

when $1.50 was an outrageous price for gas!

I also remember when I couldn't get gas for less than $4.00.

Satisfaction is

only thing better would be a wood-burning fire (this one is gas-powered).

Morning Routine

Every day before we let out the dogs we need to break the ice over their water bucket.

Quiet time

Took the picture on Friday, but wasn't able to post it because Walker was using the computer for homework. :)

Oh the weather outside is frightful

and there are lots of beautiful ice crystals on every surface.  Thank goodness for snowplows and salt.

fiber

and it isn't for me!

from left to right:
alpaca, acrylic, angora (on top), 80% bamboo/20% wool (on bottom), bamboo ribbon, cashmere, cotton, hemp (on top), linen (on bottom), silk (on top), and wool (on bottom).  All these are 100% of whichever fiber (excluding the wool/bamboo blend).  Morgen is doing a science fair project on the tensile strength of different fibers after they're exposed to extremely cold temperatures.  And I'm pretty excited about this because I can help! I know fiber!!  Plus she won't need the entire skein of each fiber- just 15 yards or so- and I'll just have to find something to do with the rest of the yarn. I hope I'm up for the challenge...

365

In an attempt to post here more regularly, I will be taking (and posting) a picture a day.  Here's to an interesting new year :)

My first knitting project of the year:

Halloween

 Morgen and Walker carved pumpkins with their youth groups the first week of October.  That sad little shriveled pumpkin below is Morgen's.  It froze, so it wasn't in danger of dissolving on our front porch, and it lent itself quite well to the spooky-icky side of Halloween!  Above it is the spider and owl pumpkin she carved with our family on Monday.

Walker carved the geometric window pumpkin.  It didn't hold together well, but he carved holes in the bottom, and that may have compromised its structural integrity.  Hyrum wanted "a scared guy who is leaking brains," so I free-handed the face, and he carved it out.  Not quite as disgusting as Walker's puking pumpkin from last year, but still icky!

Walker said he might dress up if I bought him a strait-jacket.  At $150+ per jacket, I decided to skip that lovely opportunity :).  Morgen changed her mind a few times, but finally settled on "goth" as her Halloween costume.

We dyed her hair (demi-permanent, so it'll wash out in another week or so), and bought some black trim at JoAnn's with which to make her some black jewelry:

Here's a close-up of her face:

We spent about 30 minutes on her makeup.  And she practiced her "goth face," which was basically her looking bored and a bit sullen.  I am SO glad this is a costume for her!
Hyrum wanted to be Legolas.  I made him a vest, pants, and a cape.  Jared made him a quiver, arrows, and a bow.  I also had some ears, but they didn't stay on, so Jared improvised with masking tape!

We had a good time- I took Hyrum, Morgen, and her friend to the church for our annual trunk-or-treat, then  back to our neighborhood.  M & friend took off to gather candy, and Hyrum went with a few of his friends.  I really wanted to have them go with an adult, BUT they are all 9, and old enough to trick-or-treat without me following behind them and spoiling their fun.  All in all, it was a pretty calm and fun evening.  I had 6 pieces of candy left over after we turned out our lights and went to bed.

Oh, and we've had a week of weirdly warm weather (at least for October). So, no more snow on the ground :( but good weather to trick-or-treat in.

Gratitude List:
* a mother-in-law who was willing to lend me her sewing machine (mine broke) so I could finish Hyrum's costume.
* creative kids
* beautiful fall weather
* good neighbors
* fun Halloween music (marie leveau, witch doctor, man with the hex, monster mash)
* candy :)
* a dishwasher that is NOT working. well, I am grateful for my dh who is repairing it, and for the lesson (to me) about how helpful an electric dishwasher IS.
* I can register my car online this year. wheee!
* a son who decided to wash the dishes for me today.  very thoughtful :)
* my family- all healthy and reasonably happy, and together.
* good friends
* I know who I am and what my purpose is/
* God is good.