Happy New Year (part one)

Happy 2015!

Let me apologize for my absence.  I had every intention of making all sorts of wonderful Christmastime posts, but life got in the way.

I mentioned to you in my last post about our insurance. I'm not sure what to blame, whether my husband's new company (actually same company, new owner) or Obamacare, but our insurance in 2014 was AWFUL!  We had a massively high deductible (although not as high as some, I know). Fortunately, our maximum out-of-pocket cap is not much higher than the family deductible.  Once we meet the deductible, we might as well go for broke.  Between follow-ups from an elective surgery I had in 2013, an athlete with tendonitis, and a daughter who made a couple of trips to the emergency room (she is fine now), we reached the deductible in October and the cap in November.

I myself met my personal out-of-pocket cap at the end of October.  I began to brainstorm all of the procedures and tests that I have put off because they weren't "essential."  I started November with a string of appointments that continued through the end of the year. (One of my first "unnecessary" appointments revealed the "bump that shall not be named.") Then in November, the whole family reached the cap and I began scheduling things for my children, too.  Throw Christmas into the mix and December was a total blur!  There was no time for blogging.

Christmas itself was a blur.  I did a lot of the shopping for my dad, or went with him when he shopped; I sent out all of his Christmas cards (with letter!); I did my own Christmas shopping, baking and wrapped presents for 12 people.  I could tell you how many hours were spent wrapping alone, but that would only be whining, and I don't want to do that. While it was a total blur, it was wonderful.  I hope yours was fantastic, too.

In that crazy blur, something had to give, so I never actually got around to finishing my ornament garland (go figure).  However, I did put it up, as it was.

You can find my post on how to make your own ornament garland on-the-cheap here.

Here's to a Wonderful and Prosperous New Year for all!

~Cyndi

DIY Christmas Ornament Garland

I have always loved those beautiful Christmas ornament garlands that inundate all the holiday catalogs this time of year. However, priced at anywhere from $50 to over $100, it has always been a splurge I was unwilling to make.

Last year, though, I went on an after-Christmas rampage and hit all the major sales. I, fortunately, was able to pick up the makings for an ornament garland on the cheap. I don't remember if the sale was 50% or 75% off, but at any rate I got all the supplies for between $3.99 and $7.99. I bought the pre-lit 9' garland and two packages of ornaments on sale. To complete the project I also used floral wire and wire snips that I already had on-board. From setup to completion, it took almost exactly one hour.

Laying out the supplies.

Before I started attaching, I laid out the pattern.  Notice there is one ornament left-over.

One thing to note is that when I was wiring the ornaments onto the garland, I discovered that it was so much easier to remove the ornaments themselves from the metal hanger and to attach only the metal hanger. Once wired into place, I would then put the ball back onto the metal hanger.

Placing the wire (colored yellow for easier viewing).

Attach the metal hanger only.  Replace the ball after you wire it on.

The number of ornaments I had purchased did not completely fill the garland, so when I get a chance I will be getting more ornaments to complete the project. One more package should do it; at Wal-Mart they should be only about three bucks full-price.

The original price.  Not bad to start with, right?  If you wait for the after-Christmas sales like me, you could score it for $2.50!

The original price for the ornaments.

In my family we have a rule: We may not decorate, listen to Christmas music or watch Christmas movies until AFTER Thanksgiving. Of course as tradition has it, we listen to Christmas music on the way home from Thanksgiving dinner. That said, I won't be displaying my garland until that time. When I do, I'll be sure to post follow-up pictures.

It's a lot easier than you think!

~Cyndi

Autumn has arrived

It is a beautiful sunny autumn day as I sit here typing this.  It is the perfect day to share with you my latest piece of mail art, also sent to my daughter.  She has to have received it by now, although she has not said as much.  I think she's frustrated that I'm not sending more care packages.  I think when she said, "I want more mail," she actually meant "I want more STUFF!" At $12 a box to ship her stuff, she can count on more letters and fewer boxes.

For this piece, I used a leaf stamp from Stampland along with big and mini leaf punches. I have no idea who made the "autumn" stamp.  I created a stencil and mask with the leaf punches, and then added the cut-out pieces in her envelope like confetti. The color is from Dylusions ink sprays from Ranger as well as brown and black StazOn ink pads. And of course I had to create a piece of stationery to go with the envelope.

I'm still working on getting into the studio daily, or at least doing "something" creative.  The other day I used my creative time to decorate the house for the fall.  I put a fall leaf wreath on the door, a fall tablecloth and place mats on my table and decorated my fireplace and mantel.

I've read a  LOT of books lately.  A lot of GOOD books.  The last time I was at the library, I checked out three books that were 14 day books...usually not a smart thing for me as I wind up not being able to finish but one in that time. Well, I am on book three and I have one week left to go!  The book pictured below, "Sting of the Drone," by Richard A. Clarke, is the one I read right before picking up my newest batch of three. 

Here is the synopsis from Amazon:

In Washington, D.C., the Kill Committee gathers in the White House's Situation Room to pick the next targets for the United States drone program. At an airbase just outside Las Vegas, a team of pilots, military personnel, and intelligence officers follow through on the committee's orders, finding the men who have been deemed a threat to national security and sentenced to death.

 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, in the mountains where the drones hunt their prey, someone has decided to fight back. And not just against the unmanned planes that circle their skies, but against the Americans at home who control them.

 

In Sting of the Drone, bestselling author Richard A. Clarke draws on his decades-long experience at the very highest levels of national security to craft a thrilling novel that has the feel of nonfiction, taking us behind closed doors to meet the men and women who protect America--and those who seek to do us harm.

Richard Clarke served in intelligence during four presidential administrations and it is fascinating, and sobering, to read his epilogue. My dad suggested this book to me, not that he had read it, but when we were at the library together, he saw it and said he thought it sounded like a good one.  He was right. 

You've probably heard the stories about how, maybe as early as next year, private companies have the go-ahead to start using unmanned drones.  Amazon had actually said, initially, that it was going to use drones to drop off packages.  I don't know about you, but I don't want little unmanned aircraft buzzing about all over the place.  Besides the sheer annoyance, the security risks of people being able to fly these little robots all around our homes is just mind-boggling...if you put your mind around it.  I think most people would rather just put their heads in the sand, or don't have time to think about the possible intrusion.  I hope that when these little flying robots start filling our skies, our right to defend our property gives us the right to shoot them down if they fly into our own airspace.  However, if they are armored like the ones in this book are, our little pea shooters won't have a chance. 

Read this book.  I highly recommend it.  It is a well-written story and a good read.  I read it very quickly - always a good sign.  Let me know if you read it and what you think.

Finally, I'll leave you with this:  We put braces on my oldest daughter's teeth.  She got them off in May of her senior year and after removing them,  the orthodontist fixed a small chip in her front tooth (that he had made during the course of treatment). Her teeth were beautiful, and they should've been;  we paid enough for them!  Right before my daughter left for college I scheduled her for a routine cleaning at the dentist office.  She hadn't been to this particular dentist since she got the braces (our other dental insurance required us to go to a chain). The hygienist made her cry...made her feel awful about her teeth.  Not only did my daughter cry for that reason, but the hygienist so fiercely chiseled away between her two front teeth that she chipped off the veneer that the orthodontist had added to fix her teeth.  I called that same day and told them about it, and asked them to try to squeeze her in before she left for college the next week.  They did.  I sent my daughter with pictures showing her teeth right after she got the braces off (just a few months prior), before the veneer, and after. Just so they would be able to tell for sure that, indeed, her teeth had been repaired and what the repair had looked like.

A couple of days ago I got THE BILL.  FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY CAUSED!!!  I am not a happy girl.  My younger daughter has an appointment next week for some fillings.  Please think of me, say a few prayers, send some positive thoughts, etc.,  as I will have to confront them about this.  I hate having to constantly fight people for things like this. I should've never seen that bill.

Have a great autumn day everyone!

~Cyndi