A Bit More Crafting - for Free

I enjoy knitting and crocheting. But all those needles can be really hard to keep track of. So one day I gathered all the material that I had and looked for something colorful.  It was winter and I really needed some color besides white.

The insides has 2 layers for storage. The shorter front pockets hold the crochet needles, tape measure, scissors, and a box of row markers. The top layer pockets hold the larger needles and ruler. The top folds up to make getting to those needles easier and velcros down to hold them in place when I'm not using them.

When I'm done I simply start on one end and beging to roll it up.

I takes 3 rolls to completely roll it up

And then I have knitted a band that buttons close and all the needles are inside and neatly stored. 

Again all the materials were on hand so it was free!  I've seen these cases in stores for $30.00.  I'm so glad that I learned to sew a long time ago.

What have you made lately?

Crafting The God Box

The idea of a God Box has been around for a while. Mary Lou Quinian wrote the book "The God Box". A story about one woman's journey discovering her own mother through some 20 God boxes that she found after her's mother death. Little boxes where the mother placed prayers to God. Prayers for good health, the money to buy a house, help with dealing with a problem and dreams for her children. Placing them in the box symbolized to her the act of giving the request to God and forgetting about it.  I liked the idea.

Once the box and cover were made, the cover didn't fit on as it once did. I taped ribbon to the inside of the top and box and now they are connected. 

So I made myself a God Box.  Someplace to put the prayers that comes from the depths of my heart. Some place to see that I've "mailed" off my hopes for my husband, my kids, my grandkids.  A place to put my dreams, my struggles, my frears, my joys. A place where I write it down and then forget it.
The prayers don't have to be long, or eleganant, or for something very big - but they do have to be honest. Sometimes my prayers are simply "Help". I know that God knows what I need.

A Box where I put my dreams and God takes them out.
A Box where I know that He will see it and take care of it.
He will answer them in time.  He will send His peace and I can rest in His love for me.
My job is to send my prayers to Him. I'm pretty good at this part. I'm hoping that the Box will remind me to NOT take them back. I'm not so good at that part.

Have you ever heard of the God Box?  Did you read the book?

A Friendly and Happy Hodgepodge

It's Wednesday so it's time for the Happy Hodgepodge and I for one am glad because February is the month when I get cabin fever! Having the Hodgepodge to look forward every week sure does bring me joy. How about you?

1.  Chinese New Year will be celebrated on February 10th, and 2013 is the year of the snake. When did you last see a snake?  Are you okay around snakes or do they give you the shivers? 

I live in NH so any snakes up here are non poisonous!  I still don't like them and we do have a garden snake that shows up every summer to bask in our yard. So the last time I saw a snake would have been last summer.  I'm not a fan but I know that  s/he is more afraid of me than s/he thinks I'm afraid of her/him.  Still, if s/he were in my house you can bed I'd be calling someone to kill her/him.

2. The color red in Chinese culture usually means good luck.  Do you believe in luck? 

I believe in God.

3. Sledding-ice skating-building a snowman...if given a choice, which activity would you choose?  Which of the three have you done most recently?  

I prefer to watch all of the above from the comfort of a nice warm chair, by a fire, sipping on tea.  I don't do winter activities.   I have Raynaud's - cold is not my friend.

4.  Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited as saying, "The years teach much which the days never knew."  Where have you seen this quote played out in your own life?  

Raising kids!  Hind sight shows me how much I learned but living it day to day, I never saw it.

5. When was the last time you ate a cupcake?  

I can't remember, it's been a long time.....

6. What's something you can't say no to?  

Dunkin Donuts Decaf Caramel Swirl Coffee with Extra Cream HOT!

7.  Are you a doodler?  
NOPE

8.  Insert your own random thought here.  

Many people get the winter blues in January right after all the excitement of the holidays is over and the house is undecorated, and quiet.  Me, I get the winter blues in February.  The sun is up but not very strong at all. The day light is getting longer each day but I still wake up in the dark and night comes early still. I see the shorts in the stores, bathing suits, and think YUCK as I'm still in a winter coat and scarf and long johns.  I'm glad that February is a short month because by March the sun begins to give off some warmth up here - but for now, I'm feeling the winter blues.

Ok, your turn.........

Crafting

Ever have one of those days when you feel creative and have the time to Craft?  This past Saturday was one of those days for me.  With Hubby out for a meeting, I had the house to myself. It was cold so both dogs were ready to curl up and let me craft.

I love my "Cricut" and I have a few cartridges but storing them is a problem.  I have to keep getting up and going to the book case to pull out the next cartridge.  I've seen those premade cartridge holders but oh my!! They are costly.  I knew there was something I could create.  So I took a 3 Ring binder, some nice paper, my Cricut and heavy weight pocket protectors.

Before

I used my Cricut to create a cover, something simple but in a green that matches my office.

The pocket protectors were sewed in 1/2 and a little dab of Velcro at the top and now the cartridge and overlay as well as the sheet of images can all fit inside and I can hold 2 cartridges per sheet.  By placing the sheet of images back to back, I can turn one protector over and see all the image's that I can make. Total cost was $1.59 for the 3 ring binder. I had everything else.

Then I made a craft for August. When I need to groom August, we are not always home so I wanted a small grooming kit ready in the car.  I had material from another project so I made this:

It holds the slicker brush, a comb, a small bottle of conditioner, and a mat splitter.  It all folds up and can fit in the car. So when I need to freshen him up, all the supplies are there. Total cost $0.00!

I also made a few cards. I love making cards. I love sending them as much as I love getting them.

Then I made a God Box?  I used a box that I already had and covered it. Once the paper was on the box it no longer closed the way it once did so I taped ribbon to the inside and now it opens and stays attached just fine.  I'll talk about the God Box in another post.

Total cost of the God Box $0.00

So after that I cooked, cleaned and watched TV.  What a great crafting day!  When did you have a crafting day and what did you make? I love when I have the time and the materials to craft.

Caring for Becke - Part Four

Last week we talked about some health issues that older dogs may have. Hearing, sight, and movement. So how do we help our companions who have stood by us for so long and loved us even when we were not very lovable? 

We should start by visiting the vet for that senior check up that I mentioned and see if any medical issues can be helped by diet, meds, supplements or maybe holistic help. Fix what you can, help what you can't. But get educated on the differences. That way you can make informed decisions. 

Keep them on a good diet. Now is not the time to cut corners by getting a cheaper dog food in order to save some money.  They really need the best diet you can afford now. Feeding smaller meals will allow their blood sugar to remain steady. We take Becke's meals and divide it into 3 small meals.  She enjoys eating (she is a LAB after all) and looks forward to her small meals. It also helps in digestion and elimination. Also her food dish is raised up making food easier to get to and takes pressure off the shoulders when she leans forward to eat. 

Rugs in the kitchen allow Becke to get to her elavated food dish

You may love your hard wood floors but your dog may have a hard time walking on them. Area rugs will make the walk from point A to point B easier.  For small dogs all you may need are a few bathroom rugs or a hall runner placed just right so that your little angels can move around your house.  If you have a bigger dog, you may need those area rugs that are made for an entrance or placed by couches allowing them more room to walk. 

Arera rugs to the dog bed in the family room

If you can, get some with texture and keep the texture the same in each room that they are in.  A rough pile in the kitchen let the dogs know they are still in the kitchen while rugs with a circular pattern will tell them they are in the living room. 

If your dog looses their eye sight completely those textured rugs will be perfect for letting the dog know what room they are in.  You can also put up Velcro strips along the entrance to a room. Many dogs who loose their eye sight completely will hug the walls as they walk, having those Velcro strips at shoulder height will allow them to know where they are.  Change the shapes of the Velcro for each room or get Velcro made of different material (plastic, heavy duty, light weight etc.) Don't forget to mark any stairs that the dog will use at both ends.

If they loose depth perception, lights around the house will help them. Don't forget the hallways. We have night lights in the halls and over the stairs. Keep the water bowls and food bowls well lit as well.

Don't forget those steps and ramps to help them up on the couch or bed.  It's a little thing but if they have been sleeping with you all their lives, then now is NOT the time to tell them they are no longer wanted near you. They need your touch.

If you have winter where you live, shovel off those steps and put down sand to give them something to grip onto. Shovel a path for them to go out and do whatever they need to do.  Give them another way outside that may be easier for them to handle. 

Have dog beds of some kind in every room. They can be either a bed, a blanket, a softer rug. Home made or store bought.  The point is that no matter where the dog is, they can lie down and hang out with you. We have dog beds in the living room, my office and the family room since she sleeps with us we don't have one in the bedroom.

area run leading to the dog bed in my office.

Touch. Touch your dog every day, spend time with them every day. Break up their day. Dog puzzles are wonderful! Becke has a few where we put treats in the puzzle, close it up and let Becke figure out how to get the treats out.  She loves this game!  Keep them moving, walk, play ball, run around the house, play hide and seek and give kisses for as long as you can.

When the time comes, you may have to help your best friend to move on in peace.  It's a hard, heart-breaking decision to make. It's gonna hurt. You will cry. But your best friend who has given you so much deserves to hear your voice and feel your touch as you tell them just how much they have meant to you and just how much you will miss them and that you will see them again one day. We all pray that our best friends will live a really long time. Enjoy every joy and challenge you have. 

Tell me how you care for your best friend.