work fun

When I drop off my husband for work each morning I am usually greeted by this sight. These geese, and others that have a lot more color, and a bunch of mallard ducks are always at my husband's work because there is a small river within 20 yards of the building, if not closer than that. The funny thing is, there are some real busy roads near his place of employment. I have seen traffic stop for a duck to waddle across the road. Doesn't matter how much you honk or anything, they own this area and are not going to move for anyone. This morning these geese where having a tissy with each other; it was funny to watch, too.

Today at my work I got to make this arrangement; it took forever because of the way these things are assembled. But it came out well; it isn't quiet done in this photo because the bottom mums are still white and need to be blue. I ran out of floral paint, so the sister store had to send some over, and the florist after me put the finishing touches on it, I hope, after I left and before the customer arrived. If you are from Utah, or you are a member of "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," you probably know this is one of the symbols for BYU ( Bringham Young University).

Between midnight and 8am

That is when all this snow fell onto our back deck. We didn't haul any up the stairs; this was already there. The kids are excited to make a snowman. They received a gift of an instant snowman in a box at Christmas, and they have been waiting for one really good snow fall so they could make him on the deck ,so this is the day. The instant snow man is pretty cool; he came with eyes, corn cob pipe and mouth, a carrot nose, buttons and scarf and hat.

In the process of making this post I discovered there is a turkey in the box, too. How funny!

Update

While I was posting, they changed their mind to make a snow cave instead. Funny because they have been waiting for almost four weeks to make a snowman.

All Done!

They made a snowman after all. He is sort of the Mount Rushmore of snowmen, I guess. Go figure, kids! They stayed out so long that their little bodies got so cold they couldn't feel themselves. But, they made the snowman, so that is all that mattered.

For all those people that love birds help

These birds are roaming my yard, quite often actually; about 13 of them. I haven't a clue what they are; if any one knows, please tell me because I think they are cool and want to know more about them.
Thanks! sunshine

Christmas swap at MJF

Group1

1. creatmyworld : Beaded Wreath ornament sun catcher.
2. smoothiejuice : I can't remember which was in which swap -- hot cocoa and Santa mitten.
   
   
3. sunshine : Boa scarves.
4. botanical bath: I can't remember if soap was in group one or group two; same goes for the lotion she made, but you either got this or lotion.
5. Gaias Rose : Hand-made ornaments.
6. Willowtreecreek : hand decorated notebook.
7. Bertha : Pin in box with ornament decoration on box.
8. Rebekka Mae : Citrus ornament and needle case.
9. Cheryl : Hand towels, there are 4 styles; each person gets one, not all four. I kept a tree.
10. Tina Michelle : Heart ornaments and bookmarks.
11. Farmgirlwannabe : Embroidered Christmas sock with Sees candies inside.
    
    
    Group2
    

1. creatmyworld : Snow flake beaded ornament sun catcher.
2. smoothiejuice: I can't remember which was in which swap: hot cocoa and Santa mitten.
   
3. sunshine : Handmade brooch.
4. botanical bath: I can't remember if lotion was in group one or group two; same goes for the soap she made, but you either got this or soap.
5. Gaias Rose : Tree-shaped ornaments.
6. Willowtreecreek : Hand-made pin.
7. yarnmamma
   
   
8. ktknits : Basket.
9. allee: She sent a crocheted tree; can't find photo of it, don't know why.
   
10. dropped
    
11. dropped

My last two weeks have been too busy and this post shows it. Yikes!

Morning Sky

This was the sky line yesterday at about 7 am on the way to Salt Lake City. I thought it a very pretty morning. I am not sure why, but I have a thing for sky lines.

Salt Lake City Temple and Surrounding Area

1. Reflecting pool, 2. Brigham Young Monument, 3. Autumnal tree on temple square, 4. MoTab

Went to conference yesterday in Salt Lake City. Such pretty things to see on the way to and from the Conference Center. Here are just a few for you to see. Top two pictures are The Assembly Hall on Temple square. Next is the reflecting pool, and fall tree on temple square and the Brigham Young Monument, and the Mo Tab Choir below is the Salt Lake Temple.

1. salt lake city temple, 2. salt lake city temple, 3. Salt Lake temple, 4. Salt Lake temple

Let it snow ..let it snow...

Yes, that is right; we have the first snow of the season today. These photos where taken after only about 10 minutes of snow.

As you can see, it wasn't a light snow, either, and it is still falling. Yes, all those things in the air are the snow flakes falling, and they are the size of silver dollars.

O is for....

OOOOHHH!! so pretty. This is the rainbow that I saw on the 18th of this month while I was at my daughter's soccer practice. It was actually a double rainbow, but the other didn't show up well in the photos. In the next photo you can sort of see the second one right over the telephone pole, the right most pole, arching the same way as the predominate rainbow. A few of the girls on the team were worried about getting hit by lightening because of the clouds. Click here to see a big version of this photo to see if you can see it, too. Once in new picture, click on it again for even a bigger image and better view of rainbows. Leave me a comment if you can see it, too. the weird thing about the second rainbow is the colors looked reversed to me. I have never seen one like that -- have you? I did a little bit of research on the reverse rainbow and that is normal; go here near bottom of page to find out more.

O is also for OUCH........Sorry I didn't post this yesterday like I had planned, but my 5-year-old daughter fall down our stairs and I had to take her to the doctor. She had 3 vertebrae out in her neck, 2 in her upper back, and one in her lower back from the whole thing. The chiropractor adjusted her, and she felt much better. He said it was good she was only 5, because their bodies bend easier (little kids, that is) than adults; other wise he thinks her neck would have broken from hitting the stairs three times on the way down. She sort of cartwheeled her way down with out putting her hands out to brace herself, so she now has a slight case of whip lash. He said if she had broken it where she wrenched it, she might have been paralyzed from the fall. We think she hit her teeth together each time she hit the stairs, and now her teeth hurt. Luckily, her tongue didn't get caught between her teeth because that could have been real bad, too. Long story short, I am very grateful all she has is whiplash and not being paralyzed.

L is for...

Lovely sunrise and sunset views on the way to the campout and this morning from my tent.

This morning from my tent, around 5:30 I think.

In the car on our way to the campout; window open.

In the car on our way to campout; window closed.

K is for....

Kick the ball, a game of great fun for two little kids on a church camping trip. Last night we went with our church to a campout. It kept threatening to rain, but that didn't stop the fun of these two new friends.

We were not sure if we were going to wake up to a dripping wet tent or not. That didn't happen, but I didn't sleep well because three kids under the age of ten can do amazing things in their sleep to make mom and dad have no room in a tent.

Also at this camp ground was a humming bird feeder. Just an ordinary feeder that had somewhere between 8 and 14 birds hovering around it pretty much all the time this morning. I think I sat there for 30 minuets or more just watching them dance in the air.

I have seen lots of humming birds in my life as my Vavo has lots of feeders at her home. Hummingbirds are her favorite bird, but I have never seen this many at one time. WOW is all I can say. If you like hummers and want to talk about them check out this forum.

I tried to get them in photos, but I need to get better with the F stop to get any real good photos. Out of 50, I think I have 5 I really like; most just got deleted from the memory card. However, I never was able to get more than 8 in one photo; it was just amazing. When there are this many hummingbirds, it can be a very noisy affair because they were trying to claim territorial rights to the feeder. It was fun to watch.

I is for...

Incredible morning sky. This is what our skyline looked like at 6:30 this morning; just beautiful.

This is supposed to be summer

1. kitchen window, 2. porch,
3. this is suppsoed to be my porch not a wave pool,
4. Hard Summer Rain

I grew up in a desert area in California. I have yet to get used to the high deserts of Utah. When we have a down fall like this in the middle of July, I get so confused. It's lovely to watch, but isn't this the wrong time of year? The house is so dark for summer at 3:00 in the afternoon it feels like winter or fall. These are actually color photos; that is how dark it is today. I have a party planned for Saturday in this wave pool of a porch. Please don't let it rain on that day because I was going to put three tables on the porch for people to sit and eat at with a canopy over it. It won't work this way, and the only other place to put everyone is in the walk-out basement of the house. It's not a bad area -- it is nice and roomy, spacious with lots of light and unfinished, yikes!

Watching Time Go By

Not sure why this happens, but every now and again the world just sort of slows down for just one day. I really love those days. On days like that I like to look at the scenery. Ever have one of those days that just seems to go by in slow motion? Today's scenery was the clouds; the wind was blowing real well up in the sky, the clouds changed shape every few seconds. I love watching clouds -- it is so peaceful. I hope you are having a lovely day, too! Days like this make everything worth while.

It was fun watching the storm come in. It is amazing seeing nature at work -- how a blue, sunny day goes to gray and wet.

Free Shipping for the summer

Over at my store, Vintage Threads Inc., we are doing free shipping for the summer.

Also, the Blogiversary quilts will be mailed tomorrow; I have heard from both winners now.

LAST DAY TO ENTER DRAWING

Yep, today is the last day to enter the drawing. Go here if you haven't entered it yet. If I get 15 more entries there will be two prizes drawn. Don't forget I am in the western hemisphere for all of you in Australia and on that side of the world; you may already be on the fourth, but I am going by Utah time in the USA. So, add your names to the hat. Once the post is locked, I won't add any more names. 'Till that happens on the other topic, you are still able to join in the fun.

Side note: If you know what these flowers are, please tell me. They where just growing wild in my neighbor's grass, and I thought them sweet.

Take time to smell the flowers

1. more tiny flowers, 2. colors, 3. summer time flowers, 4. tiny flowers

I have been in my attic all day pulling down holiday boxes. If you have ever been in an old house, attics are very, very hot. It gave me a splitting headache. So, I decided to take a break to look at my neighbors flowers; I am going to miss both the neighbors and their lovely flowers. Here are a few lovelies for you to look at.

UPDATE June 15
Just got back from the Chiropractor; found out I had six vertebra out in my back and a few in my neck -- thus the backache and the headache. Back to moving...Yeah!!!!

A Touch of Flowers

My peony is in bloom; I just love the bright color.

This is the first year my wisteria has actually bloomed well. Last fall I got one bloom and was happy to have it. The year before that, nothing, and the year before that I planted them. So this is the first time I get to be real excited about them. I have another wisteria plant on my porch but it blooms later in the season. I am hoping I get to enjoy it this year, too, because I have never seen a bloom on that plant.

It was so nice to see all these flowers on Mother's Day, especially since I was home with a sick kid and not able to visit my mother-in-law or my husband's grandmother. My children and husband got me a lovely little rose bush.

Just a Little Squirrelly

The last two days in our backyard we have had this little visitor. We have a walnut tree in our backyard that came with the house. We just use it as a shade tree, because none of us like walnuts. However, it brings all kinds of animals to our yard, such as groundhogs, raccoons, woodpeckers -- plus tons of other creatures; they go after the wormy nuts.. This is pretty funny since we live less than three blocks from the dead middle of town.

It is also pretty funny that, every time a new animal shows up, my kids look out the window and yell, "Look, we have a chipmunk!" They said this about the raccoon and groundhog, too. I don't know about you, but I don't think a chipmunk, no matter how many nuts it ate, could get to the size of those two animals. So of course they were sure they had found a chipmunk this time. Much to their dismay both Pai and Mae said, "Nope. That is a squirrel." They were excited in spite of Mae and Pai.

Happy Easter

Mother Nature is so Confused

So are my plants. I actually woke up to more snow than this, but after taking kids to piano then school, I went to my mother-in-law's to drop off Easter stuff, the bank, the doctor, and the grocery store. By the time I got home the snow had melted mostly away. Wacky weather to say the least. My kids played outside two days ago and were asking when I was going to pull out the blow-up pool. They were having so much fun blowing bubbles and playing on skateboards and skates, you never would have anticipated snow today. Go figure!!