Sunday, November 29, 2009

I am participating in the Etsy Holiday Sale

Check out my Etsy shop and see my new deals for the Holidays. Currently I am working on making woven polarfleece coasters plus a small bag for cell phone or I-Pod.
My husband finished the new looms for me just in time for the holidays. I will be adding my new items to My etsy shop soon.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Me driving the loader

Here I am playing in the loader

I play with the Big Boys!

Once in awhile, my husband lets me play with the big toys! Here I am in one of the Ely Mn. gravel pits, just playing. I feel really big and important!!! This is really fun, loading the bucket, emptying it again and just driving around the pit!

Participating in the Etsy Holiday Sale

My daughter just told me that her friends were going out shopping by 4 a.m. and then going to be at work by 8 a.m.! Oh to be young again!!!! I guess going out that early and shopping on Black Friday just isn't that important to me anymore. My Body says No and my mind thinks well, maybe, but in the end the decision is Be smart, don't abuse yourself!!!

I will be participating in the Etsy Holiday Sale by offering one free single mat with the purchase of a 3 or 6 square rug.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

Today was a full day of cooking, avoiding the rush in the morning to get everything done for a noon meal.Trying a new dish, made in the slow cooker. Amongst all the usual, steamed rutabega that is mashed with butter and sugar and then put in the oven to bake for 1/2 hour, mashed spuds with top the tater sourcream added when mixing, cooked carrots/butter/ brussell sprouts roasted in olive oil and garlic cloves in the oven, homemade stuffing, I think that is it. We all like ham better than turkey so that is what we serve. In a few minutes, my husband and I are making prizzeli a crumb cookie that is rolled into a cone. Then tomorrow before serving,I squirt in the creamcheese mixture. SOOOO good! I think I just gained 10 lbs talking about it! Oh my!
Diet starts Friday, I send most the left overs home with the kids!!!
Wishing everyone well !

Thursday, November 19, 2009

what happens to docks up north in the winter?

pike river dam

Pike river dam

pictures of our Pike River Dam

This past weekend finally was a sunny enough day to get some clear pictures of the dam by Lake Vermilion. This was a favorite place of mine, as growing up we would hike, picnic and watch the suckers run in the spring.

Advertise, networking, and more advertising!

Good morning all from foggy northern Mn. Everyday I start out the same, thinking how to get my etsy shop more visibility and traffic. I blog, I follow other blogs, read the forums and join in on chats on etsy, and twitter. I did make some business cards, and some small flyers to spread in a 400 miles radious, here to the cities. Lets see if that does anything to get more exposure. I keep hearing here on etsy from other crafters, have patience, times are really tough, others who sold big before xmas last year have near to nothing in sales. So, all I can do, and advice, is, we have to have patience, and continue doing our craft that we love.
Today, however, on the etsy forums, one states that try other outside blogs, not etsy sellers. She wants to let you know and not forget, it is a big world out there, try to get the word out to everyone. So now I will search related blogs to my craft and see if it is something that will help.
Have a great day everyone!

Friday, November 13, 2009

Wine-berry cro hook shawl

shades of blue placemats 16"x16"

Where shall I start?

Woke up to a dreary Friday, oh well, best just get busy and I will not even notice the sun isn't shining! I am currently working on so many projects that one is bound to get finished today!I have my fleece waiting for me on my cutting table, my cro-hook shawl project sitting by easy chair waiting for me, my suede yarn coat project on my other table in my craft room, and now I decided to start my crocheted snowflakes since they take awhile to dry. Like I said, there is not enough time in a day!
Our near-by river dam is running fast and just gorgeous, have to try and get some pictures of it this weekend.
Tomorrow is our daughter's 33rd b-day. How can that be,where does time go? Since she got her diabetes,age 11, I have made her , her favorite desert. I take a block of cream cheese, powder sugar, cool whip, mix all together, and then put it in a grahamcracker crust. I then put some remaining graham cracket crust, crumble, lightly on top of entire pie. I ran this recipe by our local diabetes clinic, and they said it was the perfect desert for her. It has gotten to be the entire families favorite, plus now her new family since she got married 2 years ago.

Monday, November 9, 2009

I should just go to sleep!

Another busy day, got most everything accomplished that I set out to do! Our grand-daughter came to play with her mammam for a little while today, she helped me clean house! I got the prayer shawl done, listed my blue polar fleece placemats on etsy, made supper and watched some tv. Tonight we had one of our favorites, oven roasted sweet potatoes. I slice a sweet potato very thin, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper them, and put on cookie sheet, bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
Now my eyes are telling me it is time to wrap this up and just give in and go to bed.

Friday, November 6, 2009

TGIF

Well the weekend is almost here and the weather forecast promises to be a nice warm one at that! In the 50's for the opening deer season is not welcomed by the hunters but people like me could have this weather year around! In the distance I hear gun shots, must be someone target practicing over in the gravel pit. That I like to do, target practice, but when it comes to hunting, I don't care for that.
My xmas cactus plant is blooming, looks so pretty with the deep pink flowers. Looks like it is a cascading fall of flowers. I will have to get a good picture of it.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

One side of the road is blacktopped

Still Blacktopping!

We have beautiful sunshine here today in northern Mn. Temps are back up into the 40's and 50's and supposed to hang around until next week. This nice weather now allows my husband's summer work to keep on going on until the weather gets really nasty. They are blacktopping a bike trail and streets yet. Also we have some last minute yard work to do, grind up the leaves and put out the bases for the steel xmas trees my husband makes. He being the electrician and computer whiz made up the brains for the trees to flash the LED lights to music. He makes his own little computers, puts them in a secure box, puts it on a timer so the lights come on and go off every night the same time. Very pretty when they are all lined up around the yard. I hope he decides to make more, wouldn't mind having them go right around the outside of our property. Well I best get to my weaving. I am very happy with the progress and outcome of my shades of Blues in my soon to be finished rug.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Busy Day!

Well, so far I have listed 2 of my woven polar fleece bags on my etsy shop, listed on yaami, now writing in my blog and next take a break from weaving and go make some chili.
It is that kind of day, chili day! Gloomy and cool, feels like I should go cook something that will warm us up plus smells up the house good! I have been using baby butterbeans in my chili for awhile. Instead of putting the traditional kidney beans I thought since this is a favorite bean of ours, I would try it. Plus I will make some mashed potatoes to serve the chili on! I know, no cal eating tonight! Gotta cheat sometimes!

Going over bridge to Lake Superior

Loading grain on Boat

Lake Superior

Moose

This big Boy was walking the tracks by my cousin's house. Imagine how surprised my cousin was to have this walk in front of him!

Moose

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Dluth Minnesota, Superior Wisc.

It was mostly gloomy out this past weekend but I finally had my camera with me so thought it was a good time to get some pictures of areas that I have been asked about.

Tamarrack trees

This weekend we took a ride in the wilderness so I could get some pictures of the golden, and rusty colored tamarrack trees. They are loosing their needles fast, as you can see in the pictures the rusty needle path on the highway.

SunShine all around!

November already, where on earth did October go to? Goodness, before we know it, xmas will be here and I have so much to do!! I hope I can keep saying that for a long time to come! I love being busy,but never too busy to take time out for my family.
I was very happy to get going on with my new design for my Shades of Blue polar fleece rug yesterday. There is lots of prep work but it is all fun. My 3 yr.old granddaughter came to visit yesterday and saw all my polar fleece strips waiting to be put on the loom and announces....Mammam's making her putting rugs again! If that doesn't just make one's day!
Today we have sunshine, at least for awhile, rain in forecast for later today. Temps are very nice, in low 40's, so no complaints here!