Photo Journaling 2/15...

 Brrrrr.......Its been an extremely cold month!

 

 

Deuce has the Winter blues.

 

I really want those treats but I'm quite comfortable

at the moment.

 

Winter clouds!

 

Making some Valentines Day décor.

 

Tasty Taco soup.

 

Received my first fix.

 

 The photo journaling idea came from Holly. See her blog here.

 

Winter Bucket List Update...

I'm getting close to the half way mark for my Winter Bucket List and so far I've managed to crochet a rag rug (pictures below), I've continued using My Fitness Pal and totally bombed out on CY365 and #fmsphotoaday for January. Oh and I'm four squares behind on my CAL.
But Deuce is doing better, the days are getting longer (more light) and February is right around the corner so hopefully I'll be able to mark a few more items off my list and get back to taking photos for CY365. A few years ago when the Mr. bought me my Canon t1i, I promised myself that I would learn to take better photos with it. At first I practiced a lot and even felt like I was taking better photos, then I laid it down, used my iPhone a lot (like all the time), picked up my Canon t1i again and seemed to have forgotten everything I had learned about it. Has this ever happened to you? So my new plan starting February 1, 2015 is to use my Canon t1i for CY365 and ditch #fmshotoaday for now. Who know maybe it'll show up on my Spring Bucket List.

How Do You People Do It All...

I made a Bucket List of a few things I'd like to do this Winter and so far, so good! I've completed a rag rug, added my photos to the CY365 gallery and taken photos for the #fmsphotoaday all except for one day. That day the prompt was landscape, it was below zero out and I had no interest in getting out to take a photo. As my niece Katie would say "sorry but I'm not sorry."
I'm not going to lie I've been struggling with the photo taking, a couple of photos for CY365 were not taken on the correct day but I took them and added them to the galley anyway. So for now I'm caught up...until tomorrow. ; )  Which leads me to this question, how do you people do it all?
I chose to participate in CY365 so that I could learn to take better photos. Sometimes I feel like I've got my camera figured out, other times not so much. That's when I get frustrated and quit but this time I plan to stick with it and learn to take better photos. I thought I'd share a couple of my favorites here today. 

Ensemble

Solitude

Multifaceted

Sunset
 

I'll share photos of the rag rug soon.

Winter Bucket List...

Happy Winter! I kind of like this list making stuff so I'm doing it again for this cold, dark, dreary, long season we call Winter! Maybe it'll help me fight off the Winter Blues! Here's my list:

 1. Make homemade noodles. Didn't get it done in the Fall so I'm trying again.
 2. Start a quilt. Again, didn't get it done in the Fall. I will, I am, I have all the stuff to do so. < That's me trying to convince myself to cut up the pretty material I purchased months ago.
 3. Catch up on my CAL (crochet along). I'm a little behind due to the Holidays.
 4. Crochet a rag rug. I've been wanting to do this for awhile now. She makes some awesome rugs.
 5. Participate in CY365. I'm hoping this will help me improve my photography skills.
 6. Participate in FMS photo a day. I have an awesome little book to fill up. Thank you Paula!
 7. Continue using My Fitness Pal. I've been using it for a few weeks now. I'm eating healthier and I've lost 4 lbs. If you haven't tried it, its pretty awesome!
 8. Bake something new. I have a couple of things in mind.
 9. Purge un-needed things from this house. I've been working on this since we moved in but there is still plenty to toss out!
10. Organize the items I am keeping. I have a lot of this done but I have a bit of OCD so I'm always organizing something!

Whatever the season in your part of the world. I hope you are enjoying it.
Me! I'm really looking forward to Spring. I have a whole new yard and some flowers to plant!

The Winter Blues...

They showed up early this year, they usually rear their ugly head after the Holidays. Me and Winter, we just don't mix anymore. I really need to move to a place that has a warmer climate year round. But at this time work does not allow so I'll just have to deal with it for the next 3 months. I plan to get a few things done inside the house while waiting on daylight and sunshine but I can't promise any of those will happen for a few months either.
While sitting around feeling Blue I've been thinking about a few things I'd like to do in the New Year. I was also thinking I should write them down for future reference. Its been awhile since I've posted anything so what better place than here on my blog.  I'd also like to say that these things are not New Years resolutions.  Here's my list...as of now.

1. Break my Diet Coke habit...again!
2. Find balance! I have worked 5 days a week for the past 37 years. In July of 2013 my work schedule was changed to 3 days a week. And while I love having more time away from work I feel as if I'm bouncing around all...the...time!
3. Get passports for the husband and I. 2014 is supposed to be the year for my big adventure!
4. Use my Rebel T1i instead of my iphone for photos! I want to take better pictures.
5. Learn to use my 50mm (Nifty Fifty) lens. I struggle with it every time I put in on my camera.
6. Learn to use PSE. I've had it for some time and know very little about it.
7. Learn more about my silhouette SD. Once again I've had it for some time and know very little about it.
8. Scrapbook...something. PL was started but did not happen again this year. Pictures were taken, some lost during upload from phone and #2 above. I bought the first kit Becky Higgins came out with for PL and still do not a one year documented. :(  I have no idea why, I LOVE this way of scrapbooking.
9. Learn to and make a small quilt.
10. Spend more time outdoors. Bike, Hike, Tennis, etc.!

Of course this list will grow as the year goes on but I am already working on #1, I am once again breaking my Diet Coke habit, why I ever started drinking it again is beyond me. So for the last week and a half I've had a terrible headache every...single...day! I have one right now! I've read that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit and I'm only on day 11! I sure hope it stops sooner than later.

Christmas is 4 days away!

Are you ready?

I am!



Winter Blues...

In an effort to fight off the Winter Blues I've been trying to keep myself busy. I've been clearing out my 2012 files to make room new paperwork., purging craft/scrapbook items and teaching myself to crochet in the round. I found a tutorial here, a pattern for a preemie hat here  and another for a baby beanie here. I also headed over to you tube for some help. I'm still having some issues with the flower on the pink beanie, working in the back is confusing but I'm almost there, just a couple of joining issues. I'd like to make a few to donate to a local hospital but first I need to figure out what yarn would be best for the precious little ones. So if you have any suggestions, please share and TIA.

xo,
Susi

Ice,Ice,Baby...

We had a bit of an ice storm overnight and today thirty three states in the USA are under a winter storm warning. Thats over half of the USA people. What's up with this crazy weather. I went into work but left at noon for fear of not making it home if we get the weather that is expected. The news is reporting that it may be three times worse than last night. We got about an inch of ice overnight and although its pretty to look at the sound of trees cracking in the wind because they are covered in ice is very unsettling. And of course theres always the chance we could lose power. Boo on Winter!
 I took a few pictures at work and at home today to share with all of you who are missing out on this lovely weather. LOL If you are enjoying some sunshine and warm weather, I beg you, please send some our way. Thank You!  

Love & Hugs,

SUSI

Snow Covered Gumby...

Winter Blahs...

Yes...I've got them! Last night we got quite a bit of snow. I let Deuce out this morning to potty and he looked at me like I was a crazy woman. He put his front paws into the snow and immediately turned around and did his business right outside the back door. He was ready to come back inside in a matter of seconds.

Our rocking chairs on the back deck look like this today. 

I've been busy with a couple of BPS classes.  I'm really loving the DYL class with Cathy Zielske, she's such a fun lady and since I'm a simple scrapper this class is right up my alley. Once again I'm not staying caught up but I will do each and every layout assigned. The LOM class with Stacy Julian just started a couple of days ago and I'm just beginning to read through the handouts. I know from reading her book "Photo Freedom" that I'm going to love using her organizational system for my photos. I've got 30+ years of them and it's going to take me awhile but I'll get it done. As Stacy told me today during a class chat "slow and steady wins the race"! 

I've been taking a picture a day for my Project Life kit but I'm really having a hard time (I've missed three days so far) there's only so many things to take pictures of at work and at home. I really need to get out more often. And if you are reading this my word for the year is "Balance". I've taken a few pictures for this but could really use some ideas. If you have any please feel free to share.

Once Spring rolls around I plan to take "Getting Out of Auto Mode" with Alicia Snow over at BPS. I have this camera and I cannot wait to learn more about it. I also hear the the 50mm 1.4 (nifty fifty) lens is a great one to have. I'll have to see about getting myself one.

Enjoy the Weekend...

Go Colts!

Snow Pictures 09...

Around 12.5 inches in all.

My daughter told me I should have put vertical lines on this to make it look like a bundt cake. Sort of looks like an angel food cake though!














I love the snow covered trees. Aren't they beautiful? And just look at that pretty blue sky!

It's Still Coming Down...

Overnight we got somewhere between 7" and 9" of the fluffy white stuff and it's still snowing. We are supposed to get another inch or so today and then it's supposed to get colder for the next few days. YUCK! Maybe I'll build my own snowman (see last post) LOL.
My poor little Deuce had a time trying to find a potty spot this morning, he's pretty short and even though the husband shoveled him out a spot he hopped through snow as deep as he is tall to find a spot. He loves the snow and hops around in it like a little rabbit but he get cold easy and this doesn't last long. It is so fun to watch him play.
We came in to work early so that we (really the husband) could beat the mess thats going to be out on the roads today. He thinks that it's a crime to miss work. Me, NOT!
I am supposed to go to a punch class this evening which I'm pretty sure will be cancelled due to the weather. Who really wants to go out in this stuff anyway? NOT ME! Oh wait I've already been out in it but not really by choice. You that know the husband know exactly what I mean. I will just do my normal routine this evening a few wine coolers, some good music and a clean house in no time at all.

Stay Warm, Dry and Have a Great Day.

It's Snowing...

I saw this picture on Scrapjazz today and it made me think just how much I dislike WINTER. You know cold, dark, gloomy, you get the picture right? I could go on and on here.

It started snowing around lunch time and we are supposed to get 6-12 inches of snow in the next 24 hours. Sitting inside looking out it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I can't wait to see what it will look like first thing tomorrow morning. Pictures? Maybe!

Uggggh...

Such crappy weather today. I had to take the Deuce to the groomer today in the pouring rain at 7 this morning and have been freezing ever since.
As you can see I've lost focus again, I'd like to call it mojo but I don't think I've really ever had that, I think my OCD gets in the way. I do plan on getting back to my little challenge but as you all know things are a little hectic with the Holidays and all. I still have shopping to do, a gift exchange on Saturday with the girls, presents to wrap, cookies to bake, etc... I did however get my scrap room straightened over the weekend *thanks DIL* for all the help.
My perfect little tree has arrived *grin*. My little Deuce it all purtied up for the Holidays which won't actually last until the Holiday arrives being he's all white and the weather is crappy. I snapped a few picture of him and the tree today. I plan on posting them soon.
I hope you all are enjoying this busy month and getting everything checked off your list.

Have A Great Day!

First Snow...

It’s beginning to look alot like Christmas. We got our first bit of snow overnight. Isn’t it beautiful?