a beautiful sunset

chuck wagon...quite literally!

We had hay delivered the other day and it quite literally instantly turned into a chuck wagon or an all you can eat buffet. The llama, alpacas, and goats all took to it like a dog on a bone! I figured they were thinking, "Well isn't this convenient?! It's about time!"



I love this picture of Buckley, he's soooo expressive and looks as though he's just been caught doing something Blackberry told him he wouldn't get in trouble for. Hmph! Older brothers!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

I love these crazy half mitten things!

labor intensive cupcake making 101

Make a batch of cupcakes, while those are baking mix up the colored sugars. I used plain white refined sugar and food coloring, tint to the desired color and set aside. Whip up a batch of frosting, or in my case crack open a tub of frosting, select an unsuspecting cupcake and glob on the frosting. Pile it on thick enough to be able to push things into....
Open up the bag of miniature marshmallows and cut in half diagonally.

Hand dip each half of the marshmallow in colored sugar. The sugar will only stick to the cut side, forming what looks like a petal.
Place hand dipped marshmallows in concentric circles around the top of the frosted cupcake, starting with the outside edge first.
Start placing them angled slightly more up towards the center to give an open blossom look. Continuing to place the cut side up marshmallows in circles toward the center until about all of the top is covered, leaving a tiny opening at the top for a slight sprinkling of an alternately colored bit of sugar to serve as the blossoms center. Please note that your cupcakes should have between 36-48 - 1/2 marshmallows pieces placed on the top depending on the size of your cupcakes.
Repeat until all cupcakes are covered or until your head explodes or your eyes start bleeding...

A friend of mine recently told me I was "Martha Stewart in cowboy boots." I giggled. I think things like this is why she said that.... ;-)

right hand done!

currently on my needles

about half of one in a pair I'm currently working on. So pleased with how they are turning out, this is only my second time cabling!

oh yes I did!

make these I mean.

it's that time again!

The kids have their first 4-H show tonight! We're headed to the State Fair today for their pig show - hopefully will have pics later tonight! Ron won't be able to make it, as it would be too much for him, but we'll have lots of other family members around to show support for the kids!

ahh, something normal!

mom says I'm like a crow....

that I love round and shiny things. hmmmm, I wonder why she says that?! hehehe

I've been given the moon!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

a homemade photo shoot

TWe were supposed to have our family portraits/photo shoot taken last month with a fabulous up and coming photographer, but due to Ron's recent hospitalization we needed to cancel the shoot. I was bummed but hopefully we can get in next time she visits Maine, I'm telling you this girl is amazing and we were lucky to get a sitting. Then today as "luck" would have it, (I do not believe in luck, but don't have another word for it that fits right now.) I was taking our trash to the transfer station today and drove past this field full of sunflowers in full bloom. On the way back I decided I was going to go home grab some clothes, the kids and my camera and make our own photo shoot. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful location and to have it so close by is a blessing as well. The sun was at a great angle and a nice gentle breeze kept things cool. We all took turns photographing each other and enjoying the shoot. And just as "luck" would have it we were done and leaving a full 5 minutes before the sign on the gate said they close this road... We got to the sign and the gate was already closed! What?! Fortunately we were in the car and managed to drive under the gate and go home. Why would the sign on the gate say they close at one time and already be closed before that time?! UGH! Anyway here are some of the 150+ pictures we took this afternoon. What do you think!?

The one at the top is one of my all time favorites! I cherish this time because I know that it won't be too long before he won't think holding Mommy's hand or picking her flowers is cool! So I soak it up now.

my first attempt

A surgical patient doped up on who knows what for medication does not make a great conversationalist, (unless said patient is also sleep deprived and starts conversations with folks in the next bed about pit bulls while in varying stages of sleep. ahem! A side effect that some might call conversational touretts, we won't go there! ;-) he he he!) Since it was comforting to Ron to have me at the hospital I spent a lot of time at the hospital sitting in the quiet, (I had do do something or that quiet and things we are facing were going to drive me to the edge.) so I knit. I spent the time I was alone while Ron was in the hospital trying to keep my mind from wandering into some of those scary places it shouldn't go, knit two, purl two, knit two... oh wait, what did you say we're facing?! knit two, color change, cancer?! what? knit two, color change. please explain this to me again, my mind cannot comprehend all this, my husband is not just a number attached to your paycheck! purl this row.

I knit. A lot!

I mentioned I'm not good at sitting and doing nothing and in this case other than being in the room, getting ice water, asking questions, trying to keep things and doctors straight, fluffing the bedding or pillows or feeding ice chips there was not a damn thing I could to! Talk about a feeling of complete and utter uselessness, frustration and helplessness!!! Then it donned on me! If I cannot help my husband's pain and cannot take it away I can knit up a storm with the hopes of selling the items to help bridge the gap and meet expenses! I can do that! I felt empowered in a situation I had no control over and no say in the outcome. The knitting needles have been smokin' hot!

This was my first attempt at wrist warmers/fingerless gloves/call them what you will. I've made mittens before and those have come out ok, but seeing these are so crazy popular I figured I'd have a go at making these. I used the same pattern as the mittens, but modified it slightly - I took it from 2 needles to 4, to get rid of the seam and altered the top and thumb to be fingerless.
I need to finish up the mate, but was so excited about how this came out I wanted to show y'all! It's got a hat that matches as well!
...and an actual pair of mittens.

Next to finish up is a pair of either fingerless thing-y's (for goodness sake what are these called?!) or a pair of mittens to go with the beige-ish oatmeal-y hat I also knit. When I finish up that I'm going to finish up and stuff the three teddy bears I made while there as well. I told you the knitting needles were smokin' hot!

Thanks for checking in on us here while we're going through all this. I am so touched by the kind words, prayers and genuine concern for my family from what some would consider strangers but whom I consider friends. Thank you so much. Though difficult at times,this journey has also been a blessing.