Making it special

Making it special...it does not have to take hours and hours. I cut my boys toast with a heart cookie cutter. I spread lots of butter and added a few heart sprinkles.

"Oh, Mom, that is so cool."

We started the day out with LOVE.

And isn't that what it is all about...Love!

What simple things have you done to add a bit of LOVE to someones day?  

What to say

"I just wanted to thank you for being there for me"

Can you think of anyone you know who may need a bit of encouragement. Grab a pen and card and write them a note thanking them for being part of your life.

How about sending a card to someone for no other reason than to let them know how special you think they are?

Brag about them.

 

Check out all our photo cards at our Etsy shop Studio 206

 

Winter Birch Trees

I recently found a great blog Art Projects for Kids

We just finished our Winter Birch Trees and are ready to share with you.

 We used canvas...painters tape and blue craft paint.

Tape a border around the edge and design your trees using the tape. Use strips to make branches. Add a moon or a star.

 Paint over the tape. To add texture, sprinkle salt on the top of the paint while still wet. Let dry. We let ours dry over night.

 Rub the salt off the picture and carefully peel off the tape.

We enjoyed this project. 

Have fun creating!

I am happy!! S.N.O.W.

S.N.O.W.

Yay, guess what we will be doing this week. 

C-C skiing....I love snow!

We were blessed with a good snow storm this afternoon. Big white flakes! The boys were so excited to see the huge flakes, the best we have had in awhile. 

Have you ever been able to capture a snowflake in your hand and really examine it?

I had a few good looks at some before they melt. Snowflakes truly are an amazing gift from God.

Check out one of my older posts about Snowflake Bentley. A wonderful story about a man who captured snowflakes on film.

Snowflake Bentley    

   Enjoy!

Bogey's Diner - Dickinson, North Dakota

 This Friday, we are heading to North Dakota. On our trip home from Montana in 2011, my mom asked us to stop at Bogey's Diner, North Dakota and tell her all about it.

So we did. And it was wonderful.

Bogey's is full of fun things to look at from America's past.

 Bogey's also has wonderful shakes!

 YUMMY!

 Bogey's Diner - Dickinson, ND

 We enjoyed a wonderful lunch.

If you ever pass through Dickinson, North Dakota, I recommend Bogey's. Thank you for joining me today with On the Road Friday!

P.S. Have you eaten at Bogey's?

Pattison State Park

Sharing Wisconsin's highest waterfall with you.

Check out the summer posts

Summer Waterfall 

Pattison State Park features the highest waterfalls in Wisconsin and the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. Big Manitou Falls is 165 feet high, and Twin Little Manitou Falls is 31 feet high. This 1,436-acre park also has a lake with a beach, a nature center, camping, nine miles of hiking trails and abundant wildlife.

This was our first trip to see Pattison in the winter! Wow, I would recommend it. It is a short hike to the waterfall. 

 The ice formations are amazing. The foam from the waterfall freezes. It creates such a neat look.

 While growing up my sister and I would get Grow It Kits for Christmas. We would build a tree or mountain and put some sort of liquid on it. Over night foam stuff would grow. I hope you know what I am talking about. :)

The frozen foam in the waterfall reminded me of the stuff that would grow.

  "Tis merry, merry in the spring, And merry in the summer time, And merry when the great winds sing through autumn's woodland brown. And in the winter, wild, and cold. Tis merry, merry too."

William Howitt

Dreaming of a White Winter

We had planned to visit family this past weekend. But my parents called and encouraged us to stay home. Wisconsin got hit with some very cold weather this weekend. 

I can get down in the dumps during this time, because I do love winter. Because I love snow.

 Our ski trip 12/12/12

Our first good snowfall for the 2012/2013 winter.

 Pattison State Park

I have done several posts about Pattison State Park, it is one of our favorites. It is the home of Wisconsin's largest waterfall.

Enjoying summer at Pattison State Park

 See anything different on this tree? All three of my boys skied past, and I yelled out, "Guys, look at this tree."

 The river, always changing, yet the same. The animals still come to it, we could see the tracks. We could hear some water flowing under the ice. I love to stop and listen to the winter woods. It is full of beauty. Different beauty then summers busy beauty. Winters beauty is peace.

 I think the guy with the Sharpie was really starting to have too much fun.

Dreaming of Snow this cold Tuesday morning. 

Because we did not travel to see family, I called instead. Talking with my Grandma, she said, "You know, I think we had more snow years ago."

She is not the first person to share that with me in the past week.

I wonder what type of weather pattern we are going through? 

A quote from Laura Ingalls Wilder

I am linking up with Lori at Life, Love and Laughter in a Large Family  with Think Quotes.

"Today, our way of living and our schools are much different...but the real things have not changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures and to be cheerful and to have courage when things go wrong."

Laura Ingalls Wilder

On the Road in 2013

Hello Blog Readers and Friends,

I plan to continue with On the Road Fridays in 2013.

I will feature an event, city, small town or park. I will give you a few tips about our visit and share what we liked best. And prepare you for any surprises that you should be aware of to make your trip comfortable. If you live in Wisconsin you might just be able to add it to your places to visit list. If you live in another state, you will have a fun little trip to a new place without spending a dime on gas.

I hope you will join me and take a little trip each Friday.

My dog Molly, wishing you a Happy 2013!

Happy 2013 and we will see you soon!

I really like my bed

Our new kitten, Little B.

He could sleep on the cozy kitty bed we made for him. But he thought up of a better place.

Did you make this house just for me?

The boys laughed and laughed. Of all places to curl up. Little B you are so funny.

Do your pets sleep in funny places?

  

Why Don't We Pray About It?

Why Don't We Pray About It?

Sometimes we do not pray because we honestly aren't sure it will do any good. We figure that because God is sovereign and omni-everything he has everything under control. It seems logical that he's going to move according to his timing and will, regardless of our requests.

Let's be honest now. We probably all feel this way at times.

Yet, Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 3:1 clearly urges the Thessalonians to pray. For him, for the message of God to spread. Paul does not give up.

Perhaps Paul realized that when we stop praying we hail Satan as victor of our struggles. When we stop praying for others who are having trouble, we leave them without support.

We leave ourselves without God's presence at a time when he most wants to be with us.

Let us join together to pray for our nation, famlies and friends.

      

Santa's

On our December trip to Hudson, Wisconsin  we drove past Mr. and Mrs. Claus. I am always amazed what folks can do with big round bales of hay. I love it!

Have you seen any cool creations made out of hay?

 

Twin Babies Dancing!

Funny on Sunday

One day Bruce comes out to the warehouse to walk around. As he is
walking, he looks up and sees John hanging upside down from an I-Beam in
the ceiling. He asks, "What ARE you doing"? John says, "I need a few days
off but the boss won't let me have them so I'm hanging upside down from
this I-Beam acting crazy. The boss will see me, think I need rest and send
me home for a few days". Bruce says, "That won't work...uh ohh...here
comes the boss now, you're in for it". The boss spots Bruce looking up and
sees  John hanging up there and asks him, "Just WHAT do you think you
are DOING?!!" John says, (in a "crazy" voice) I'm a light bulb...I'm a light
bulb." The boss says, "Buddy, you need some rest, take the rest of today and
tomorrow off and get some sleep". As he is climbing down he winks at
Bruce showing him it worked. Bruce thinks about this for a moment and
starts to follow the man out the door. The boss asks him, "WHERE do you
think YOU'RE going?"  Bruce says "I can't work in the dark".

Don Friesen: Forgot Password

This is so fun! Enjoy!!

Riddles in the Dark part 2

Riddles in the Dark 

In case you missed Riddles in the Dark part 1  click here.

Now for the TePaske Family Riddles in the Dark

All of these where made up while washing and drying the supper dishes.

What falls, but does not go up, and moves on the ground?

 A Leaf

What has two eyes, three buttons and melts in the heat?

A snowman

I can be spent but won't buy anything, or I can be saved?

Time

We had so much fun with riddles we looked a few up to share with you.

What starts and ends with a T, and is full of T?

Teapot

What can you serve, but not eat?

Tennis ball

What sleeps in the hay, hangs on a tree, walks out of a cave and rides on a cloud?

Jesus

 

   

 

    

Homemade with love

Before 

 

And after!

 My felted tote!

This was a fun project for me. I am a beginner knitter (does that sound strange)? I was so pleased how my felted tote turned out for my dear friend Bobby Jean. I made this larger tote for Bobby Jean for her dog gear. She has a love for animals and has rescued many dogs. She treats her pets so well. I thought a large tote for her items, she needs when taking the dogs for a ride, would be a great Christmas gift for her. I had a lot of fun knitting this tote. The best part is putting it in the washer and felting. It is amazing how it turns out!

 

Time to start working on 2013 Christmas projects.

That is, if I can get to my knitting?

Broccoli Slaw with Citrus

Broccoli Slaw with Citrus

1 pkg. of Broccoli Slaw

1 cup of Sunflower seeds

1 cup of Craisins

1/4 cup of orange segments

1/4 cup of orange rind

Toss your above ingredients into a bowl.

 Mix together the following for your dressing

3/4 cup of oil

1/3 cup vinegar

1/2 cup of sugar

 dash of pepper, garlic and sea salt 

Add dressing to salad, coat well, chill for 2 hours to overnight and serve.

ENJOY!  

  

  

Riddles in the Dark

Lord of the Ring's cards available at our Etsy Shop!

Riddles in the Dark

Have you had the opportunity to go see the movie The Hobbit?

 The scene Riddles in the Dark was a favorite of ours. When Bilbo stumbles across Gollum in the dark caves under Misty Mountains he must use his wits in a challenge of riddles. Are you clever enough to take the challenge too?

Riddle 1:

What has roots that nobody sees 

Is taller than the trees

Up, Up it goes,

And yet never grows?

A mountain

Riddle 2:

Voiceless it cries,

Wingless flutters,

Toothless bites,

Mouthless mutters

The wind

Riddle 3:

It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,

Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.

It lies behind stars and under hills,

And empty holes it fills, 

It comes first and follows after,

Ends life, kills laughter.

The Dark

Riddle 4:

     A box without hinges,

key, or lid,

Yet golden treasure

inside is hid.

An egg

Riddle 5:

Alive without breath,

As cold as death;

Never thirsty, ever drinking, 

All in mail, never clinking.   

An fish

Riddle 6:

This thing all things devours:

Beasts, birds, trees, flowers;

Gnaws iron, bites steel;

Grinds hard stones to meal;

Slays kings, ruins town,

And beats high mountain down.

Time

How did you do? 

We made a few riddles up too...I will share them with you another time.

      

Happy Saturday