My creative actively during December was limited to my sewing room. Not purposefully but it just worked out that way.

I made a bunch of fabric clusters from scraps like these.

As well as adding a handful more scrappy blocks to my ever growing stack.

This past December was very un-December-like for Minnesota. Warm temps, barely any snow…definitely not the norm.  But having the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights helped make it a bit more festive.

Marvin is always a fan of the tree…and bows. Bows are his favorite.

My mother-in-law gave me her Dicken’s Village collection. I chose a few favorites to set up on top of my lawyers bookcase. The photo is really poor but you get the idea.  I was very sparse in my decorating this year to be honest. Without Mini-me home for Thanksgiving to help and get me in the spirit, I took a more minimalist approach.

She did return home on one of our worst weather days…and as you can see, it wasn’t an uneventful trip. She went off the interstate into the median. Thankfully the safety cables caught her from heading into oncoming traffic. She was able to put the Jeep in 4 wheel drive and get out on her own. After accessing the damage, she drove the additional hour or so home. Mr. G was able to fix it up with new and used parts. I did a little spray painting…it’s good enough for the kids we hang out with.

J surprised me at the high school holiday concert. He didn’t think he’d get out of work in time but was able to get there just a bit late. At the end of every holiday concert, all the choirs combine to sing Sussex Carol. The alumni attending are invited to come on stage and sing. J and a friend were two of many that went up to sing. It brought me so much joy!!!

My second batch of lefse for the season was made just before my winter break. I had shared with some co-workers with the previous batch and was asked if I’d sell some for Christmas. My mom used to do that every year but I had never even considered it…until now.

I had to document this…grilling steak on Christmas Eve is absolutely crazy to me. What a treat to have in the middle of winter!

I bought myself a little gift at a local craft fair. I have no skill or patience with needlework. I love the look but I’m never going to do it so when I saw this, I had to have it.

We are in our second week back to school. I keep my favorite water bottle with me throughout my day. I usually end up drinking 2 of these 32oz bottles. I definitely drink more water at school than when I am home.

Linking up with my friend Elizabeth for T Tuesday once again.

Happy New Year!!

With the end of 2023, I am looking back at the word I chose for last year.

I refreshed my new sewing space in J’s old bedroom. (It’s currently a bit of a disaster but that happens.)

We refreshed our deck and front steps…two projects that have needed to be done for several years.

I refreshed my commitment to a more healthy lifestyle; walking more, mindful not mindless eating, stretching and taking my vitamins. This became especially important to me once I got my cancer diagnosis.

All in all I think I did pretty well with refreshing things in my life.

2024 Word of the Year

I have thought about using this word a few times over the years but this year it really spoke to me. I actually learned how brave I could be last year when I heard Lymphoma and radiation treatment. My health is looking good but I will bravely face whatever life may throw at me next.

While talking with my BFF this morning she brought up how sometimes in life you have to endure hard things to grow. It’s funny that she had said this at that very moment. One of the definitions of BRAVE is to endure or face unpleasant things without fear.

More than a dozen years ago, I was brave enough to start a blog, putting myself out there artistically. Brave enough to send in my art to publications for review. Brave enough to write articles for magazines. I feel like I have forgotten how to be brave creatively. This is yet another reason for choosing brave.

I’m also going to be brave and accept the challenge to “walk the year” meaning I am going to walk 2024 miles this year. I didn’t do the official sign-up since I don’t think I need to pay a fee to get an app and t-shirt. I have my Fitbit to keep track.

This is where I am at at the start of my challenge. To meet my challenge I need to hit 12365.36 miles by the end of 2024.

Do you have a word of the year? A motto? Even a resolution? I’d love to hear about it.

Once a month blogging seems to be my new benchmark. Times have changed. I remember when I was posting 3-5 times a week…oh, the good old days!

November has flown by with the exception of the past week when I was so very sick with a wicked virus (not COVID) that eventually turned into a sinus infection. I missed work last week…of course, we only had two days. I missed Turkey Bingo which is pretty much the most fun event we do as a staff. We postponed Thanksgiving until Saturday. GAH! What a lame week!!

Ok I’m done whining…on with the month in review.

I’ll start with a little lap crafting I’ve been doing. I saw a tutorial on YouTube making ephemera for junk journals using 6×6 scrapbook paper. I didn’t want to make ephemera but I knew this technique would lend itself very well to small size envelopes if I tweaked the process slightly. They are the perfect size for gift cards, small jewelry, stickers or anything else you’d want to gift inside. I got a little carried away when I was pulling out papers but now I have enough small envelopes to last for years!

I’ve been doing a lot of cooking and preserving this month as well.

My red cabbage sauerkraut is finally ready to consume. I’ve never tried making this before nor have I eaten red kraut. I like it and will definitely do it again.

My pressure canner is getting its use after a long time of me being too scared to use it. I canned up 13 pints of broth. Previously I’d just freeze the broth but that takes up valuable real estate in the freezer plus if you forget to take it out ahead of time, that’s a pain too.

The first batch of lefse is complete for the season.

I know I’ll make at least one more batch around Christmas. I’m going to have to try out my new griddle for the next round. I noticed that this one wasn’t heating evenly anymore. She’s 25 yrs old so I think I can forgive.

Since I was off today as well I had time to make personal turkey pot pies for us to have for dinner. They aren’t the prettiest but they are so yummy but so filling!!

Our school put on its annual Veterans Day celebration on Nov 10th. It’s always a fantastic event and I was actually able to sit in the bleachers this year to get a different view of the ceremony.

Marvin turned 9 on Nov. 11th. He had a couple extra treats and some special attention for his birthday.

My neighbor and I went on a little road trip to her son and daughter-in-law’s house who happen to live only about 35 minutes from where Mini-me goes to college. We met them for lunch in town then Mini-me headed back to college.

The rest of us went to a local winery. Its was super busy so we took a seat in the production room.

And what does this girl choose to have at a winery…a beer. It was a Minnesota craft beer. I don’t drink wine much anymore. It makes my joints hurt. Weird side effect that makes it not worth it to have any.

I went on a field trip the Monday before I got sick…I’m thinking either the bus ride or lunch facilities was the culprit of the germs. It was a beautiful day for a walk in the woods though.

The weather has definitely shifted so I am thankful the dome is back up from my morning walks. I’m thinking about signing up for a challenge that has you “walk the year”. Meaning, I’d have to walk 2024 miles next year. I think I can do it. I’d just have to push myself a little more on the weekends. So far this year without pushing myself, I’ve walked just shy of 1400 miles so far.

Back to work for me tomorrow morning. I’m looking forward to being back in a routine. Although, I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy today. I crafted, cooked, cleaned up and still had energy to blog and still feel like I had a somewhat leisurely day.

Fall is my favorite season. The crisp mornings. The gorgeous colors. The rustle of leaves. I really do love it all.

I love my morning walks. However this morning was pretty cold. It was 22°F and I’m sure the wind chill made it feel even colder. My face was stinging a bit after only a mile.

I have been trying to get back in the groove of being creative on a more regular basis.

I made this wreath using much neglected supplies. It turned out really cute…of course, you know what a sucker I am for those fall colors.

I also made a junk journal for a dear friend. I have several more in various states of completion waiting for the inspiration or motivation to finish them.

Mr. G and I went to the arboretum one afternoon and enjoyed the walking trails. Most of the flowers were past their prime with the exception of these beauties. The bees were loving them as well.

The cool evenings also give way to having toasty bonfires with the neighbors. A few adult beverages were consumed around this mesmerizing fire.

I couldn’t leave you without a picture of my buddy Marvin.

I also wanted to share that my 3 month follow up tests are looking great. My oncologist is very pleased. Another set of tests in 6 months. I’m thrilled that things are going so well. My eyelashes are growing back, my eye isn’t nearly as dry as it was, things seem to be healing really well!

Today’s post comes to you Ely, MN. It’s so far North that it’s nearly Canada.

Mini-me and I are on a girls trip. I had seeing Split Rock Lighthouse on my summer bucket list. A couple times in the past Mr. G and I have been within 10 miles of it but never went.

Just an FYI… I’m writing this post on my phone so I honestly have no idea how it’s going to turn out.

Split rock lighthouse

After touring the grounds and hiking down to capture the iconic image of the lighthouse from lake level, we began the second leg of the journey to Ely, MN.

Mini-me found an adorable cabin for rent that happened to be on super sale since this was last minute booking. Sometimes it pays to not plan ahead. Since we are still living in it until tomorrow, I’m not going to post any pictures at the moment. 

We went out for a couple hikes today. The first was shorter but by far the best. Falls

Cool tree

The second trail turned out to be pretty much the same sort of thing we have at home. Paved and boring. 

Dinner was by campfire. Campfire hotdogs

S'mores

And, of course, the classic s’more for dessert. 

More to come after we get home and get photos off the DSLR camera.

 

Grab a beverage and get a comfortable chair. It’s been a long time since I have posted…soon you will know why.

A bit of back story first that may explain some of the gaps in my posts…

A bit over a year ago I began a journey of trying to figure out what was up with my left eye. It had been getting a but squinty for about a year but I hadn’t given much thought to it. Then the upper lid near my eyebrow began to swell slightly. I saw so many doctors, had scans, x-rays, was given medicines to try…no luck. It just kept getting worse.

The day after my last post I finally saw the right specialist who ordered the right tests. I was scheduled for a surgical biopsy of a mass in my orbit. Two days later…on our 29th wedding anniversary…I got the news that it was Lymphoma.

I was passed along to oncology. More tests happened then I was told that it was a very slow growing type of lymphoma. This was a relief since I knew I had this for at least two years now looking back at photos.

We made the decision not to share the news with the kids just yet. Mini-me was away at college then was heading to Scotland to study aboard for three weeks.

I started daily radiation treatments the day after she left. I had 15 in all.

We had a family meeting and told the kids what was happening after she returned. The next day I had a follow-up with my oncologist. He said he has no reason to believe that the radiation wasn’t successful since the kind I had is extremely well treated with radiation. Obviously there are still tests ahead for me but I am very optimistic.

I am dealing with some side effects of the treatments such as very dry eye and some redness. All in all very minimal compared to the sheet of possible side effects I was given.

Obviously this is the readers digest version of the tale but whew…that was a lot.

So besides medical stuff…its summer here in Minnesota. The time that makes up for the other 8 months of the year. I’ve been getting out and walking most mornings.


With the exception of the ones ruined by the Canadian wildfire smoke. I had to cut that morning real short.

We finally had the decking and rails replaced on our deck. It was long overdue. Its so pretty!! I’ll be staining it this fall after the mill glaze wears off the cedar.

Marvin is enjoying it almost as much as I am.

My gardens are different this year as I didn’t know how I’d be feeling and also didn’t want pots sitting on the new naked wood on the deck. I just have flowers and herbs in the deck box garden.

And 6 potted tomatoes in the shed garden. I put down cardboard so I wouldn’t have to fight the never ending battle with weeds. It’s not the prettiest but it sure is easy.

One evening after a very hot day followed by a wind storm I found this Mourning Cloak butterfly struggling on the deck. He was so beautiful. I’m not sure if he made it or not…I’d like to imagine that he did.

I have been sewing, making journal covers and other puttering around but nothing substantial to share. Mainly been concentrating on my mental and physical health. Honestly throughout this whole ordeal I haven’t felt bad. A little more tired and an irritated eye but I am not going to complain one bit.

I have to wait 3 months for follow-up diagnostics. So until then I am going with my oncologists word of it should be all gone.

Technically these aren’t super long ago… but a couple months old. Honestly, with the way this winter is dragging on and on it still feels a bit like January-February. It’s all just a cold white blur.

My wonky junky journal is getting super thick. I’m on the last signature and am trying to be a bit more aware of the thickness of embellishments I am using. 

I hadn’t realized that I never posted any of these pages. Thankfully I was looking through the folders on my laptop and discovered my error.

I love the colors in this one. I was certainly wishing for warmer days when I created this one.

This page has hidden journaling about my baby girl turning 20! What in the world…that just isn’t possible.

Again with this page I am wishing for springtime. How foolish I was to think it was coming anytime soon.

I used a scrap of fabric to make a little fabric flip to hide a bit of journaling.

When I finished this page I realized that my date stamp ended with 2022. I had to improvise. Since then I ordered this new date stamp. My problem is solved until 2032.

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