Things To Do With Kids

I spent the past week helping out with the grandkids and while I was there I found a book titled "365 things to do with your kids while they're still young enough to enjoy it"  Ain't that the truth though.  I see such a difference in the kids at this age as to what they enjoy and don't.  I have to admit  that after browsing the book, we've all done a pretty good job already.  I include things that my hubby and I have done with our own kids because this will stay with them so they can repeat it with their own.  We always do some kind of a craft while I'm out there and this time it was sun catchers.  I think they've probably done this before or at least a version of it already.  This time though I picked out some things specifically for them (horses and sports).  It was a success!  We also did the usual cooking (make your own pizza on the grill and sugar cookies).  They also turned out pretty good despite using some packaged products (thank goodness for Sharp Shopper).  We also went out after dark one night and had a game of hide and go seek with the headlights I bought them for Christmas.  That was fun and we'll include some neighbor kids in that the next time.  I go back in July and have my next project lined up  -  flour stars in the grass.  I'll try them here first to make sure it'll work but it sounds like fun.  That will be worth another blog I'm sure. 

One Year

My daughter just came by to pick up the top of her wedding cake to celebrate her anniversary this weekend.  I first had quite a scare when we came home.  I knew she would be stopping by for it so as soon as we got home I looked for it in  the freezer.  I was scared to death when I couldn't find it and I thought I may have thrown it out.  If fact I was in a panic and almost took off to the store to buy another one.  I called my daughter to find out from her that she had already stopped by here to get the cake first.  What a relief!  It brought back a similar memory from my sister's wedding years ago.  We had no idea about the tradition of saving the top of the cake to eat on your anniversary so my family ate the cake after her wedding.  Imagine her surprise upon returning from her honeymoon to find there was no cake left.  Anyway, this ended much better and my daughter and her husband will be celebrating this weekend.  It got me thinking about what all has happened in the span of the last year.  My hubby reminded me this week of the anniversary of not smoking anymore.  Of course that came about in a rather dramatic way that does not need to be remembered.  It's probably one of the few things he will never forget though.  Besides the births of my kids, the only hospital stay I remember the exact date of is my heart surgery, Mar. 15, 2011.  There were other things that happened since last year that have had and will forever affect our lives.  Hopefully time will heal and make those memories not so hurtful. 

Name Sign

Here is the name sign I made with the gallery glass paint.  Not bad for my first attempt.  It was so easy though.  I have another idea to do with the kids when I go out to babysit.  I have some small patterns including sports logos and girly stuff printed out.  You can do these on plastic sheets, let them dry then peel them off and put them on the window as sun catchers.  I think they'll get a kick out of them. 

Statistics

I just had to write this about statistics of winning the lottery or being hit by a tornado.  I wish they would stop talking about this on tv.  It makes me feel like it's pointless to play the lottery but it's all about luck.  It only takes one ticket and as long as you're not using all your retirement money, it should be ok.  Some people spend that money on cigs and it goes up in smoke with nothing to show for it.  And then they talk about a 1 in 2 million chance to be hit by a tornado.  Is that supposed to make the people in Moore, OK feel better about losing their house?  Don't get me wrong  -  I have the utmost sympathy for what those people are going through.  But when you live in tornado alley, chances are going up.  Just like if you live in CA you're more likely to experience an earthquake.  We get the snowstorms here, Florida gets the hurricanes, etc.   It's all luck and where you live. 

Something Different

Starting something different craftwise.  Now that I have my new shelves up at the cabin, it's time to execute some of the projects I've had planned to decorate them with.  One of those projects was a stained glass name sign.  Not really stained glass, although I could probably take a classs and do it, but this is an easier version using Gallery Glass.  I bought this kit years ago to use on the sidelight to our front door but never did it.  Nothing seemed right so a couple years ago it got put out for a garage sale.  I found this pattern  for the name sign just in time to bring it back in before it sold.  All it is is a picture frame with a glass front which is done with the paint to make the letter M.  I have the simulated leading on it now and I'm just waiting to get the paint for the inside of the letter. I think it will look really nice up on those shelves.  Next project will be that old window I scarfed from someone's trash.  I wanted to put mirror paint on the glass but never found it so now I'm thinking this stained glass effect.  Of course, the wood around it will be in the crackle finish.  I'll keep you updated.

Who Picks These?

I'm talking about the trials on tv, such as the Jodie Arias one now.  The first one I remember was O.J. Simpson years ago.  It was summer and I remember hearing the news reports when we were at Parker Dam that his wife had been killed and he was a suspect.  He was big news back then and we were all interested in listening to the reports, even my Aunt Mary Jane.  We used to have long talks about it back then.  I admit I spent a lot of time in front of the tv that summer watching everything I could on the subject.  In my opinion that was different than the recent trials that have taken up so much time on morning tv.  I have to blame the media for it and their desire to fuel the flames so to speak and their own consultants including Nancy Grace.  Who really cared about Casey Anthony or Jodie Arias besides the town and families of all concerned.  It was definitely not of national concern.  So why make such a show of it and get us all sucked in this way.  Now they are saying we have to go through this again with Jodie.  Excuse me but no, we don't.  Read about it on the internet if you have to but don't let the media determine what we are interested in.

Another Pet Peeve

Here's another one of my pet peeves  -  businesses not returning our calls for service.  I didn't think we were that hard to work for, so why won't some of them call back.  The first time was a plumber that happens to be a family friend and we've always tried to give them our business, big and small.  I realize that the small jobs are more trouble than they're worth but doesn't it go along with the work.  A case in point was when we tried to reach the plumber about a problem and when he didn't call back, we contacted someone else.  This small job turned into a major one with replacement of our outside well pump.  Too bad for him.  At this point we will not be calling him.  Now we are faced with a problem with the AC.  This has been going on since last summer.  Now when it's starting to warm up, he's not showing up.  We waited all last week and when he didn't call, oh well.  I realize things come up but that's what phones are for  -  dah!  We have an answering machine too!  The sad part is this guy is local, right up the street in fact, so he could actually walk down and check it out for us.  Maybe business is that good that he doesn't need another possible install.  Good for you.