Colorado delight...

March 2012 in Breckenridge, CO on Peak 8, 11,000 feet above sea level...can literally take your breath away!  The mountain views are stunning and the Lodge at Peak 8 was amazing. The oxygen levels being less at that altitude also leave you breathless! Apparently, it is also the perfect spot for a certain writer from the Atlanta area to put pen to paper.  Whomever could that person be?  Friends of ours who have several time shares there invited us out for a week.

Loved hanging out here!

It was snowing!  Which was so
wonderful for us as the ATL had
nary a snowflake this year.

It is a "ski in - ski out" resort.  Basically, you walk out your door and get on a lift.  That is if you actually ski!  I have skied only once in my life and that was eons ago while dating my hubby.  Let's just say I am not a "natural" when it comes to skiing!  Hubby is an awesome skier!  Ryan (son) mixed it up with some snowboarding and skiing.

This would TERRIFY me!

This skiing business is "old hat" for hubby!

Ryan's skiing for first time!

Snow shoeing was more my speed! It was such a beautiful day and our guide was quite knowledgeable about all of the flora and fauna. 

You can make tea with the pine needles!  They taste citrus like.

If I didn't have the snowshoes on the bottom half of my body would be stuck in the snow!  Hey you can burn about 500 calories and hour doing this!

Horseback riding is a family favorite and we try to go on a ride whenever possible.  This area of Colorado is truly so beautiful as mountain ranges surround you everywhere you look.  Our ride started out very cold in the open valley.  As we entered the forest we rode in a ridge protected dry river bed which was also an old stagecoach road it was much more pleasant as the winds were now buffeted. We were fortunate enough to see a small heard of moose traveling through the ridge and resting in between the trees.

Notice the town name!

This is an old building which was part of the Stagecoach stop.

Here on the top of the ridge...Brrrrr!

Our ride was fantastic and the urge to go "Dude Ranching" is stronger now than ever.  Looking for any other couples who would like to join us in that adventure in the future!  On a sad, but memorable note...there was a "horse leg incident".  While riding out I remember my horse walking over what I thought was a tree branch.  Half of it looked like a tree branch and the other half didn't.  The dog that went along with us was very interested in it.  I said "I think that branch is a little too big for you dog!"  Fast forward to the end of our ride.  Our guide, Mike, asked us to stop while he removed "Curly's" leg from the trail.  Ding, ding went my conscious mind...it wasn't a branch it was a leg!  Whoa!!!  Before you get too sad, horses naturally will leave the heard when they are sick or dying and basically leave this world alone.  As nature would have it, the coyotes were taking care of the rest and unfortunately dragged his leg onto the trail.  Mike wanted to move it before any children went on the ride.  Understandably so!  The ranchers are very "Eco-friendly" in that they do not like to euthanize the animals because those chemicals would then move further down the food chain.  The ranchers let nature take her course.  Curly will surely be missed!  It still was a wonderful ride taking in all of the scenery and beautiful mountain vistas.  I am always a bit sad when the horse back ride ends!  I had my first pony at 4 years old and owned my last horse around 22 years old.  I miss that part of my life very much and need to make more of an effort to find places to ride and fill that need!  Would love to own one again, but I am also really enjoying this "travel stuff"!

What a great day!

Next up on our wish list...Dog Mushing!  We were so excited that they offered Dog Mushing in CO.  The dogs were so beautiful!

Ryan could have taken any of these dogs home!

Hubby likes them...but our freedom more.  Right now at least!

We loved each other!  I could have taken him home!

The sled, it has no handles to hold on to!

The amazing thing is that they really love their job.

How do you mush?  There is one person riding on the sled and that person has nothing to hold on to...at all.  It is interesting to keep your "seat" as the sled bounces up and down hills while surrounding a curve.  The "Musher" straddles the runners at the back of the sled.  To slow the sled down going down hill you need to balance yourself on one leg and "pump" the brake to slow the sled down.  I am thinking the dogs would not appreciate a sled running into their behinds!  Also you need to lean your body into the curve to help the sled go in the right direction.  It is more physical than it looks but so much fun.  Being the "rider" is fun too.  What you don't realize is how much snow and ice the dogs kick up while running and it stings your face when it hits!  It is quite a rush!  We all loved it and were just laughing the whole time.  There was the three of us and a woman with her dad.  At one point her dad lost control of the sled and it flipped over with her still in it and she experienced a cold "face plant"!  I wonder if she ever did put that on Youtube!  She was fine and we all had a really good laugh!  We highly recommend this experience if you ever have the opportunity.

On our way back to town, our driver very kindly showed us "South Park".  Not too much to see, but we all got a kick out of it!

Shucks!  We didn't have a chance to make some pottery!

This town ain't big enough for the three of us!

Downtown Breckenridge is filled with quaint little shops, vintage buildings, breweries and great places to eat.  

an old building in town

Vintage balls hanging outside on a tree.

In front of this very artsy fun shop!

Beer!

         

A statue man saying "ya'll come back again!"

Our trip to Colorado was definitely a memorable one!  Lots of fun new experiences and lots of great memories.  The only thing missing...the only person missing was Jen our daughter.  We know she is having an awesome time living in Japan, but we

missed her on this trip.  

Dan and Rose, and their boys Austin and Morgan are great people.  They are fun to be around and very generous inviting us to their snowy get a way!  They are a skiing family through and through and did not accompany us on our dog sledding or our horseback adventures, but we think they would have loved it!  And we missed them!

Madison life size paper dolls....

This past weekend we had the pleasure of attending our Great niece, Madison's First Birthday party.  It was awesome of course!  I so miss shopping for those little girl outfits and it was so much fun picking a few out.  Generally, you would get a cute little bag and some nice tissue paper.  But not when you are awake at three in the morning for no reason at all and thinking.  And thinking...and into your head pops, "ooh, wouldn't it be cute if the outfits are already on Madison?"  Next comes, "well, how big can I print out her head after I have scanned it?"  "Hmm, paper is 11.5 by 8.5, surely this will work!"  First you need a picture.  Whitney and Dennis handed that to me with the handy-dandy invitation with not one but 12 pictures of her on it.  (Very cute by the way!)  Then you will need some arms and legs with hands and feet attached.  I tried scanning some various appendages in my collection.  For some reason though, they just were not working.  I almost gave up.  Until, while cleaning up my craft room I opened up a drawer and "Voila" a pair of baby doll arms and legs.  Hey you never know when you will need this stuff.  AND...it's not creepy!  Just sayin!

As you can see I already scanned her head, the doll arms and legs and enlarged them.  (later though I realized the hands should have been a bit bigger!)  This is what happens when you start the project THE NIGHT BEFORE YOU LEAVE!

Next use your Modge Podge to adhere all the parts to those Xmas boxes you bought at the Dollar Store this year.  (Guess we will be needing more of them next Xmas!)  For the trunk of her body, I put the clothing down on the cardboard and basically traced the shape of the two different tops.  Then I cut out all of the pieces.  With the trunk shapes I cut them out as if they had short sleeves and short little legs thinking that the baby arms and legs I copied would be long enough to connect.  NOPE...no such luck.  Hey, I am "winging it" here!  SO, I had to add a linking piece of cardboard to connect the arms and legs to the trunk piece.  This doesn't need to be pretty because the clothing will cover it anyway.  Although, if I were to do it again, I would have attempted to make the base look more like a paper doll too.  Anyways, I just used a good old fashioned stapler to connect the trunk to the linking pieces, to the arms and the legs. I had to make sure that the staples were completely flat and not sticking up so they wouldn't ruin the clothing.  Then I basically dressed the doll.  I left the head for last because I really wasn't sure how I was going to connect that.  In the neckline area, when I was making the body trunk piece I didn't cut out the scoop part of the neckline because I figured that is where I would attach her head.  I brought out the old glue gun and carefully attached her head making sure not to get the glue on the clothing.  That would not have been good!  And here she is....

Twin Madison's in their cute little outfits!  Yeah, I know I could have sized the baby arms a bit bigger.  But now, how do I wrap them up?  I dunno, a box seemed kind of creepy.  (As if this isn't already...I hear you people!)  I was thinking of a paper doll like book but I didn't have big enough cardboard, or a huge envelope sort of thing.  Before I started my project THE NIGHT BEFORE I had to leave to go out of town for the party, I was at the Dollar store looking for possibilities.  I purchased two cute bags that were sort of metallic like and much stronger than the others thinking I could create the envelope.  Nah, I was running out of time and still had to pack as it was an overnight trip so the bags had to do in their own right.  I felt kind of bad folding Madison up, but I tried to do it in such a way that when she was pulled out of the bag by her head (ouch!) that her arms and legs would just unfold into a natural position.  Well that sort of worked!

Madison and her twins at her party.  I cracked up because I hadn't realized I made her head so darn big!  I was a bit nervous not knowing what my nephew and niece would think...cause it is kind of strange.  But the awesome thing was, everyone clapped and that made me feel so much better even as Whitney's eyes were like "WTH"?!

Will the real Madison please stand up!

I know the outfits look big too right?  They are 18-14 months which mommy said to get.  I had a lot of fun making them and watching my crazy 3 o'clock in the morning vision come to life.  Most of all it was so nice to be able to be at Madison's First Birthday party!

Yummy Cake!

Beautiful little Birthday girl!








The End!  Darn, now looking at that cake I would like to eat some!  BTW, Madison ate about 3/4 of that little cake! 

The Transformation....

This was my old craft room.

 

 

Sorry the picture is such a mess.  I just can't seem to find a "pretty" pic of it when I didn't have a huge mess in there.  My craft room is now in my son's old bedroom upstairs.  It has three windows and lots of sunlight streaming in.  I do love it but...I am quickly running out of storage for all that "stuff" you just have to keep for those "future" projects.  I also feel a little guilty stealing his room, since he is at college less than an hour away.  My daughter however, is living in Japan for the last two years and her room remains...the "shrine" with all of the things left exactly as they were when she left.  I guess one reason is she couldn't exactly take it all with her!  I will do a "post" on my new craft room soon.

But now my old craft room has become my husband's office.  Finally a room just for him.  He doesn't have a "man cave" yet as our basement is unfinished.  At least now he has a room, where he can work at home, "chillax" on his laptop and put together puzzles that won't be lingering on the dining room table.  Although, to be fair...how often do we use that!  First order of business to change out my favorite teal colored walls for a nice soft creamy color.  Painting the rooms are never my favorite project.  I do however like the huge impact and instant gratification that a can or two or paint and a few hours will get you!

Here is an overall shot of the new office:

We were going for a Steampunk sort of feel in this room.  We have had several antiques for many years and this room is a perfect home for them along with the newer "antiques" we purchased and the "faux" ones as well.  For instance, the oil lamp in the left corner of the desk is from the late 1800's.  I have an actual dated picture with it sitting in a wall sconce.  Hard to believe that the glass has been around this long.  It is beautifully etched.  The M.V.P. "soccer man" trophy in the center is my hubby's pride and joy from college.  The coffee table is a "Rooms to Go" table that we purchased about 11 years ago.  It was originally a dark stain.  A few years ago I painted it the creamy color as my decor in my family room changed.  Then it was sent to the basement until it was revived once again for his room.  My hubby told me out of the blue one day that he liked the "Union Jack" flag.  An overhead projector, a huge pack of transparencies his office could no longer use and I was in business.  Of course, when I readied all my supplies and turned on the projector...the bulb blew out!  I can't tell you  how many weeks it was before hubby finally ordered the new bulb (he is in the lighting business) and then they lost the order (of course) before I finally got to get this project even started.  Luckily, it went much smoother than I anticipated.  Initially, I was going to leave it pristine and crisp...nah, I needed to "age" it.  Now he has a place to put together those puzzles and to put his feet up.  Out of view is a "Pottery Barn like" loveseat from JCPenney with a creamy colored slipcover.

• 

Morning Glory Phonograph Horn...Finally!

The Coveted Morning Glory Horn!

 I have been wanting an old phonograph horn for just about FOREVER!  On occasion I would come across one however the price was usually too high!  I really am "cheap"...umm "thrifty" most of the time.  I don't know why I love them so much.  I just do!  I found this one that has a little damage on two petals but you can not see it because I will always figure out a way to camouflage it.  It was VERY reasonable and I couldn't walk away from it!  So here it is, with a "rustic looking" scarey head (many of my friends will say that) an old record box that just sings "Valentine's Day" to me, a little bit of pink basket stuffer stuff, my "fake" green apples and in the trees are some paper like roses that I rescued from a very damaged shadow box a few years ago.  I just "stuck em in"...no glue, no wire!

 A side view...did I happen to mention how much I love this thing!?

And one final little detail...the heart necklace I just "picked" from a bag of jewelry that my friend Debra left on my front porch.  She has strict orders to NOT THROW AWAY anything that I could possibly use!  I shudder to think of all the stuff I missed before I got into her head!  LOL!  Actually this batch was from her daughter, Ashley who was moving into her new apartment...Congrats!  Hmm, the "Fleur-de-lis" necklace will not be scavenged for another project.  I will wear that one just the way it is!  Thanks Ashley!  This is my Valentine "Mise-en-scene".  Who knows where my Morning Glory will end up next!

thinking PINK and cupcakes!

 I have been obsessed all day over cupcakes!  I am trying to not eat any sweets until the weekend.  While trolling through my kitchen drawers amongst the "fake food" (yes, I love that stuff!) I found my three "fake cupcakes" a vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.  Strawberry it is and here is the start of a sort of Valentine PINK theme at least until Valentines Day. 

 I purchased the old scale at Columbus Flea Market in NJ this past summer.  I absolutely love it RUST and all!  There seems to be a weighty situation up on my counter.  Oh, what to eat the healthy green apples or that yummy looking strawberry CUPCAKE!  If only it were real, today I would have lost the battle!  The little beater was given to me from "Aunt Bea" the sweetest lady you could ever know.  She was one of the most important people in my childhood and I love to have her things around me.  The little polka dotted pots and flowers are from my other favorite haunt...Home Goods!

 Another shot of the cupcake and two of the weights that came with the scale.  I love numbers too!  Except on my own scale I would like them to be lower!  Stay away from cupcakes!  I have such a sweet tooth!

oooh...they're Albino Humming birds!

I purchased my "rare Albino Humming birds" at Columbus Flea Market in NJ this past summer.  At least that is what I am calling them now that I have been inspired by the picture that my friend Linda sent me!  How funny!  Who'da thunk, to make albino Humming birds whenever they were made.  Pretty sure they are vintage.  How old...I have no idea.  But I loved them and had to have them.  They may end up in a project or just keep hanging out on the wire tree!

This is a real Albino Hummer that 15 year old photographer, Mark Shank was fortunate enough to capture several images while in a park in Staunton, VA.  (DailySquee.com)  Thanks, Linda for the "ah hah!" moment!

the storm before the calm....

This is only a portion of the "stuff" I am trying to put away and organize better.  I was inspired by an article, in of all places, People magazine.  The family has a "Xmas closet".  Hmm, sounds better than the "cruise ship" sized boxes I have in the unfinished side of the basement.  Target has been my go to for boxes.  Fun way to spend some $'s don't ya think?  It's been several days of sorting, tossing and a pile of "I can't quite get rid of it".  The end is in sight, but I do have a problem.  I look at things and think about how I can re-purpose them.  Sometimes the follow through isn't so good because I get distracted by something else.

The fruit of my labor...

This is what I am working towards...nice and neat huh?  This closet is in the finished side of the basement so I relented and put the vintage ornaments in here as well.  Just trying to squeeze in the Fall and Springtime stuff.  When I am finally done "cleaning up" then I would like to sit down and create something.  Work first...then play!
Now I am going to have all these HUGE storage boxes...anybody?  They would make a great watering trough for horses, or an impromptu bathtub!

Pine cones behaving badly...

Just when you think the "Xmas carnage" is over...a pine cone man loses his head.  Hmm...which one do you think is guilty?  The guy on the left looks "scared".  Maybe he is the guilty party!  I made these guys years ago and their hats and gloves have been repainted due to my ever changing mind and color scheme.  The teal may stay, it is my favorite color after all.  These little guys were featured in a magazine to purchase.  It could have been Country Living but I am not positive.  I don't have the magazine anymore.  I couldn't help but attempt to make them myself.  I would like to make more in the future to possibly even sell.  If I ever get that booth or actually put something in my Etsy store.  I always get so distracted with life or making something else.  I have "CADD"...Creative Attention Deficit Disorder!

Snow children...

Here are my "Snow Children", Ryan on the left and Jen on the right.  I purchased the "Snow boy and girl" at Home Goods a few years ago.  They HAD snowman features on their heads a carrot nose and little black beads for "coal eyes and mouth".  This year it just hit me out of nowhere to remove the "snowman" features and put my kids faces on the heads instead.  Ryan's snowman head was bigger and much easier to "decoupage" his face on.  Jen's was much smaller and after attempting PERFECT 6 times and needing to print out another head image of her since I ruined the first one...I decided "good enough" was going to have to do.  I still don't like the wrinkles in hers!  I also purchased lots of vintage glass garland beads this summer.  After sorting out the colors, I chose these and made little garlands for each of them.  The little teal "puffy sparkly thing" is vintage as well.  Fun easy project for anyone to add some personal Xmas items to your home.  They will be on display year round in my craft studio.  I can't possibly put them in a box!

Finally putting Xmas away...

My daughter left yesterday to go back to Japan so now I finally have the opportunity to take down the decorations.  Taking the decorations down every year is so bitter/sweet to me.  I love to make things using images of my children and now that they are in their 20's and living lives of their own, the little pieces I make with their images are NOT ones that will go into a box into the basement.  Somewhere in my craft studio they will be displayed.  I like to see them everyday!  The house is just so festive and sparkly and full.  As you take down the "pretties" it looks so empty and sparse.  Which of course gives me new decorating opportunities.  I can't seem to help myself.  It's an addiction.  Sometimes I worry that I could be on the "Hoarders" show.  Shopping and creating are just around the "fill another box" bend!  Meanwhile, I purchased many vintage glass ornaments over the last few months while "flea marketing".  My favorites are the old ones that have turned "teal" or were that color to begin with.  It's funny, I have no problem putting away the "new" ornaments into boxes in the basement.  However, the vintage stuff that has probably been put in the worst conditions before they came to me, will be loving put away in a closet on the third floor!

New Beginnings....

Finally, I have a blog!  Yippee!  Now I have no idea what I am doing exactly or how it will evolve.  I have enjoyed reading so many other blogs that have inspired me to have my own.  I will definitely recommend them as I go along.

My daughter is home for two more nights before flying back to Japan where she has been living the past two years.  I need to enjoy every last minute.  Jen (my daughter) has spent the last few hours "walking" me through this process.  Thank you dear daughter for your patience even with your migraine.  Also would like to thank Cute'n'Cool Backgrounds for her layouts.  Check her out there are so many really creative layouts.  Hard to pick just one!  I did use my own artwork for my header though.  Although the bunnies were tempting!

That's all for now!