Sunday, December 20, 2009

Let It Snow!




We woke up Saturday morning to a blanket of beautiful snow. The kids were amazed and immediately asked if they could go outside. Well that was 8 o'clock in the morning so I wasn't too thrilled about that. I managed to get them to eat breakfast and then by 9:30 we were out in the stillness of the first winter snowfall. It was so magical. 



Our creek is so beautiful (I know I'm using that word alot). I love how the snow collects on the tops of the river rocks. I've taken this picture every winter that we've lived here, and it always amazes me that this is where I live.


 
We have a steep, but short hill on the course that the kids love to sled down. The only problem, beside the fact that it's steep and after one trip up you're pooped, is that it is riddled with trees. The first time down a few years ago, no one but me was willing to navigate it. Now, my son who's 5, just told me he did it all by himself. "It was no problem, Mom." I guess I'm not surprised. He's a tough one. 


So after only 2 or 3 trips up that steep hill, Lia decided she wanted to go for a walk in the woods. It was so serene. No wind, no sound. Gorgeous. The kids found a little clearing where the branches hung down low and they thought it would be cool to just hang out for a second. The picture doesn't do it justice, but it did feel like a place where woodland creatures might take a rest.

I didn't know how long the snow would last or if it would be back for Christmas so I convinced the kids to help with a snowman. I had visions of funny scenes from Calvin and Hobbes but once I got to work it wore me out. I was lucky to get one "Frosty" out of this. The funny thing was it actually looked "hairy" because as I rolled him the snow took the last cuttings of the grass with it. Dominic didn't think that was very funny. "Who ever heard of a hairy snowman?" he said. {laugh}

I'm not sure if you can see, but that's Dominic in the background packing a snowball. He was so funny, not even trying to hide, but coming right for me very slowly with a devious grin on his face the whole time. 



This snow-filled weekend finally got it me in the spirit to finish our holiday cards. I made a stamp (of course) of a snowflake and used silver and sky blue ink to stamp a custom card for our friends and family. It was more work than I expected but it was worth it. I love my cards. Very simple...but I think that's our new year strategy. Keeping it simple and enjoying the little things. 



I hope all of you have a wonderful and safe holiday and I wish everyone a prosperous and healthy new year.
Tamra, Dan, Dominic and Lia



Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Fish Town

Forgive me followers, for it has been over a month since I last blogged. {hehe} I was going thru some pictures I took this year because I've been meaning to print and frame a few. I found the pics I took on our July 4th visit to Traverse City, Michigan where my in-laws live. 


My husband primarily takes all the pictures because he's really good at it, but you don't get to see him in any. So I thought I'd grab it in hopes I could get him in a few. Well forget about it. Through that lens I was drawn to all of these unique and wonderful collection of things. I don't think I even took one picture of my kids {I am now though}. One particular little harbor town called Fish Town, near the Sleeping Bear Dunes sparked something in me. 



The town is actually Leland, Michigan but it's nicknamed Fish Town because of its rich history of being a 145 year old fishing village. It's a small village but has these wonderful shops, perfect for a mother and daughter in law to escape while the men take care of the kids. Believe me, they have the easy part, because there is a great ice cream parlor and candy store there too.



                                    
It's funny how we take our pictures, upload them to our computer and then forget about them. We don't even put together photo albums anymore. Well at least I don't. I'm not a scrapbooker. I would rather do something digital and then have someone else print it or put it together. But I want to be more creative with these then just a typical photo album. 
































So I thought about selling them as postcards or prints in Fish Town. I know I won't make a lot of money. But how cool to have your photos for sale in a gift shop. Even if one other person loved it and bought it I'd be happy.


Happy Holidays!