A Walk in the Woods

Well it's "only" been 2 months since I posted! Life is busy, which is a good thing! Keeps me on my toes. 

Speaking of toes, I used them (and my feet!) to go for a walk in the woods by my house, a few weeks ago. Was a beautiful rare sunny day in February.

Im so lucky to have these forest woods just down the road from me. I had been wanting to explore these woods since I moved here! Only took me two years.

Lots of huge ferns.

Besides trying to get out and walk more, I've been paper crafting a lot. I've been on a real roll, and can't seem to stop! As my mom used to say, "get it while the getting's good". And I am.

Making photo books.

I love these 6x6 floppy photo books made from only 2 pieces of 12x12 scrapbook paper! I'm addicted to making them.

And of course, need to have pink and green!

Took some Christmas pictures with my sweet kitty, Maddie.

Found a bumble bee doing it's darndest to get the nector out of my Daphne flower!

Diving headfirst!!

I'm trying to shed some lbs I've gained this last year, so drinking a protein and greens drink almost every day to replace a meal. I add some of my own frozen blueberries and Maca powder for energy.

It helps to I drop a little weight (if I would stick to it)!!!

I've also been making refrigerator magnets to sell in the trading post in my nearby town.

The owner loves plants and has many for sale in her shop. I thought she'd appreciate these! I also made some with Sasquatch on them as her store tends to have alot of Sasquatch themed items. This IS Bigfoot country ya know!!

That's the news from here. I'm enjoying the cozy rainy days inside, and the occasional sun filled day. Summer will come all too soon!

New Day, New Year

Here we are, already 9 days into the new year! Can we believe it? Will January go fast??? Yes! I must admit, it's always kind of a letdown after Christmas, following all of the hustle and bustle, and after the final NEW YEAR'S EVE excitement. Although I really don't do anything 'exciting' for New Year's Eve, it's the anticipation leading up to midnight that gets me every time. And then, New Year's Day, I kind of crash land! Is it like that with you?

So....... the first few days of 2026 have been a little "down" for me. I don't seem to have much motivation for anything. I think I used up ALL of my motivation the last couple of months of 2025!

Looking forward to Valentine's Day crafting.

My decorations are still up. I put them up so late (December 24th), I'm going to keep them out awhile, as I so enjoy the pops of red, plaids, and lights at night. I wait until dusk to turn on my tree lights... it's always something to look forward to. 

My Maddie kitty has a new friend - she loves sleeping with him!

My Daphne is blooming!

A surprise for me is that my Daphne shrub, that I planted the summer of 2024, is blooming again! I thought they only bloomed in the early Spring! But no... it's been full of flowers since early December! Before my son and Terra came over on Christmas Day, I picked a bunch and put two flowers in little glasses, all over the house!  Such sweet fragrance.

One day right after the 1st of January, I decided to start making my Christmas cards for next year! I got about 12 cut out and ready to paste and decorate, but that's about as far as I got. They still sit in a pile on my dining table. They're from some gorgeous new Christmas papers (Christmas, from Carta Bella Designs) I received as a gift from my sister. I just HAD to work with them now, and not wait another year. I'm happy to say I DID get my dining table all cleaned off and most of my Christmas papers and epehemera, ribbons, cutouts, etc. put away to free up my space for more seasonal crafting.

Made a special card for my nephew's 40th birthday.

Of course, had my cup of tea - tried out the new honey sticks I received from my sister for Christmas.

I'm enjoying walks around the mobile home park where I live. There is a stand of very very old giant Cedars that greet me every time I walk down the path. They are so stately. I can imagine when someone planted them as seedlings, so many years ago. So far (knock on wood) the high winds  haven't knocked any down!

It's time to get back to "work" on my two part-time jobs! One.... photographing and listing jewelry in my daughter-in-law's Etsy shop, Terra Stones Astoria. 

Her jewelry is exquisite! Her Etsy shop is having a 10% off sale this month, on total purchases of $100.00 or more. I think her brick and mortar store in Astoria is having an even bigger sale! 

And I need to be entering new digital items in my own Etsy shop, Rocking Horse PrintsUS. Time for making new Valentine's Cards and St. Patrick's Day cards and all the fun stuff! Here are a couple of cards I already have in my shop, ready to cut and print.

 

The work never ends it seems.................

Hope everyone is recovering from the holidays, and safe and well and healthy.

Marilyn

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Countdown!

Only 2 days to go until the celebration of Jesus's birthday. I think I'm just about ready, and I've enjoyed every minute of preparations.

Made my cards, and some "Sasquatch" cards for the shop where I consign my paper crafts.

Made some Hershey Bar pockets for the shop.

Put my Christmas bedspread on my bed and a few decorations in my bedroom.

Finally set up my tree and a few decorations. So pretty. I love the lights at night. So cozy.

Maddie says hi.

She likes to be right in the middle of things! Sits on my table while I create!

Played with Gemini AI on my phone to make some digitals, just for fun.

Drove down the road to see if the little creek has flooded. We've had all those "atmospheric rivers" in the last few weeks. New name for an old weather pattern, HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING, which has been going on here forever! 

Yup it has flooded.

More decorating and a snuggly night watching Christmas movies.

A couple of more cards I made for my neighbors. (Sorry there are 2 of one, and turned sideways!) I'm posting on my phone and it won't let me rotate them or delete the extra one - good old Blogger)

Played with my new toy, the Cricut Joy Xtra cutting machine. I can use it to make stickers! I've wanted this for a couple of years. Will play and learn after Christmas.

I am so grateful to be living close to my son and his fiance. They are coming over here on Christmas Day. We'll have a little feast and open gifts. We are having a "slimmer" Christmas this year, which is as good thing. Being with my son is the best gift of all!

MERRY CHRUSTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD 2026!

Marilyn