From the Harry Potter Closet

In our current residence, we have a closet that is under the stairs.  I call it the "Harry Potter" closet.  All of my crafting supplies have been banished to this closet after losing their home back east.  (This house is smaller & I have no more "studio" to work in.)

One of the things that I moved cross country was a great find from the World's Largest Garage Sale that I shopped at with my mom and brother before moving.

I purchased a stack of "The Art Amateur magazine; devoted to art in the household."  They were published back in 1893-1894.  I was thinking about some ideas for crafts, decor, and swapping last night so I pulled them out of the HP closet to peruse.

Although it is too large for me to scan an entire page, I do have some cool images that I wanted to share:

Of course, like anything today, this magazine began with several pages of advertisements.  Obviously from the title you have guessed that everything is art themed.  Some of my favorite images from the August 1894 issue are some of the book plates:

I posted this whole section so that you could read the information that accompanied the book plates.  Nifty!

Anyone wishing to share some craft ideas using these images, feel free to comment.  I have a couple ideas bouncing around in my head; just need them time to make them happen.

I'm helping create a...

catalog.  

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Flag Bearer

Last night at pack meeting the adult leaders participated in the flag ceremony.  I was asked to be the flag bearer.  It was fun & an honor.  

This was sung by everyone before retirement of the colors.  It is the Cub Scout version of taps.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’ve never done before? 

Be a single mother.  For two months Ivan was in Idaho while I wrapped things up in Ohio.  I was still working, serving at church, and packing.  (packing, selling, throwing, donating)

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year? 

I resolve every year to make a resolution next year.  So, I did achieve my goal.  As for this year, so far so good!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

A couple of friends.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

A fomer neighbor and her son.  She and her two children were abducted.  The daughter held prisoner.  The mother & son dismembered, stuffed in garbage bags, hidden in a tree.  This was so very shocking to me.  I used to baby sit those kids.  They went to school with my kids.  I had been in their home; they in mine.  It still gives me chills and breaks my heart.

5. What countries did you visit?

Yeah, dumb question.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

A full savings account.

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched in your memory and why?

A cold day in March when we found out we would have to move or be unemployed.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Not falling apart.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I'm am pretty dang happy with how I handled all of last year's challenges.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? 

Had one of the nastiest cases of the flu since my BYU days.  Headaches became a daily reality.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Laptop!

12. Where did most of your money go?

Laptop!

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Laptop!

14. Happier or sadder?

Yes!

15. Thinner or fatter? 

Yes!

16. Richer or poorer?

Yes!

17. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Temple work.

18. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Where to start....

19. How did you spend Christmas?

Watching movies, playing games, eating, talking to family on the phone.

20. Did you fall in love in 2010?

No, I've always loved Johnny Depp.  I mean Ivan!!!  

21. What was your favorite TV show?

Sadly, there are too many to list.  (I guess I should go back to #18)

22. What was the best book you read?

Hunger Games Trilogy!

23. What was your greatest musical discovery of 2010? 

I got nothin'.

24. What did you want and get?

A laptop!!!

25. What did you want and not get?

iPad.

26. What was your favorite film this year?

Again with #18!

27. What did you do on your birthday?

Went to Church.

28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? 

I wish we could've gone on a vacation.  (I wish that every year.)  And that we'd have movers to do all of the work.  

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? 

lol

30. What kept you sane?

Medicine.

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? 

Seriosly?!  Please refer to #20

32. What political issue stirred you the most? 

Not really in the mood for that question.

33. Who did you miss?

Family, friends, and familiar territory.

34. Who was the best new person you met?

Our Bishop & his wife & Kim & Daphne & Laura.

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.

I can do more than I thought I could.

This week I was able have a PPI with my Bishop.  I am so amazed at what our Bishop's accomplish & all the hard work they do.  We have an awesome Bishop!!!  What a blessing to serve with him!!!


Saturday, I was able to attend my first baptism as the Primary President.  It was so neat.  The entire stake gets together to have all the baptisms for the month.  There was lovely music, nice talks, then in groups of three wards, we went to see "our" kids baptized.  The confirmations were done by individual wards.  I was prepared to do what I thought was the "standard" congratulations/welcome to activity days, etc.  Little did I know that they didn't do things like we did back in Ohio & everyone liked it.  I just thought everyone did the same thing.  I have started a new tradition.  I'm a trend setter.  Who knew?


Remember my fascination with sprinklers here in Idaho.  Well, there's more.  The past month I've seen little signs everywhere advertising "Sprinkler Blowouts" for $25.  Having no clue, I asked my Relief Society President.  She explained it while a couple of other sisters were chuckling at my question.  At the end of summer you have to pay someone to come & blow all the water out of the sprinkler system/pipes so that they don't freeze & bust the pipes.  I had no idea.


My first Sunday not conducting, I took the opportunity to check out our GIGANTIC nursery.  Wow!  I am so grateful to have wonderful nursery leaders & a saintly counselor who's "only" responsibility is to take care of the GIGANTIC nursery & my wonderful leaders.  And, I have to call two more leaders & "borrow" another room to have them in.  Whew!!!


And, my wonderful Relief Society sisters insisted that they could teach me to make pie shells.  I came just to chit chat & get more acquainted (not really wanting to make a pie crust).  Well they quickly put me to work measuring, fluffling, kneading, whatever.  It was fun, but I'm not going to make pie crusts at home. The pre-made frozen kind are perfectly fine for me!!!  (But thanks anyways, ladies!)

Just 5 Thoughts.

Halloween in Idaho totally stinks!  We so got more candy in Ohio!



Had a nice R.S. meeting learning about making pie crusts.

Love having internet on my phone!





I got lost in Boise this afternoon.


Saw the capital building.  My phone got me home.

Reading a cute book called, "Lawn Boy.

Life In Idaho

There are two strange new things here in Idaho.  (New to me.)

Burn Days:
There are designated days at the end of summer that folks are granted permission to burn things.  I'm assuming that it has to do in part with the threat of fires that only certain days are marked for burning.  What they are burning:  all the left over stuff from the farming season. Not sure why they don't just plow it under.  So, it smells here in Idaho.  And the sky is all hazy.  I'm not liking burn days.  Neither do my eyes, nose, or throat.

Trick-or-Treating on Halloween.

I'd never actually thought about it before because in Ohio we also took the kiddies out the Thursday before.  Then all the adults could do their partying on the 31st.  Normally it wouldn't be a problem.   But here in Idaho they go begging on the actually holiday.   And this year, Halloween is on Sunday.  Keeping the Sabbath day holy is the major debate.  It even made the news.  Hmmmm.  I guess I'm glad that we have a Ward Halloween Party & tri-ward trunk-or-treat.

Look out Primary, Here I come!!!

  

Sunday I was officially called & sustained as the Star Ward Primary President.  (Talk about jumping into a new ward with both feet!)  I was able to spend my last "free" Sunday observing & learning from the previous presidency.  I am so grateful that I've had the experience of being a counselor.  Rebecca was a great trainer.  Now I get to be the senior companion!!!

The worst part is just that I don't know very many people yet.  I don't know who's who or who goes with which kid.  Oh well, that will come with time. 

I did get to enjoy a couple of months off (for good behavior?) and the opportunity to meet a few folks.  I was even able to befriend someone who is newer here than we are.  (I'm a R.S. big sister, now.)  

Anyway, I hope this goes well.  I looking forward to my new adventure with optimism and renewed energy. 

Zucchini Part 2

(Thanks everyone, for not pointing out that I totally spelled zucchini wrong last time.)

A couple more recipes that we really liked:

And, you'll all be impressed:  I have been teaching Sage how to make ramen noodles in the microwave.  Now, if only she could reach it by herself, I'd never have to get out of bed!!!

Vegetables

Our rental manager has been so nice to share the bounty of her garden.  One of the things she shared with us is zuccini.  Now, for anyone who knows me well, they know that I don't like vegetables.  But, trying to be a good girl I searched out a recipe with which to make the zuccini more palatable.  I found one.  You must try this.  Probably not the healthiest, but it was very tasty!  (I did add some wheat germ to the mix.)

Walking

I have taken up a new hobby that I hope will become a new habit.  Walking.  Most mornings I have gotten up before the children get up and go for a walk around our neighborhood.  Depending on how early one gets up, you can see folks going to work, others out walking or jogging, or see and hear the wonder that is lawn sprinklers.

Yes, I'm a dork, but having installed/automatic lawn sprinklers is such an exciting and new thing for me.  Everyone has them.  Including me!  They are fed through the local canal systems that also help hydrate the local farms.  So stinkin' cool.  The best is to hear them when they first come on.  (Made me jump out of my skin the first time I heard it late at night.  Sounds like a bunch of hissing snakes!!!)

Anyway, they are fun to walk through when it's hot, or jump over when it's not.

The best are the rogue sprinklers.  (That's my name for them.)  The ones that don't work right.  Some look like miniature water falls.  Others shoot straight up.  So fascinating!
(Can anyone tell that I have no friends & no job & spend tooooooo much time with children?????)