Untitled....

Life isn't fair. Sometimes we expect it to be but really it isn't. I don't know what to say but my husband of 22 years has an incurable cancer. I just can't imagine that I must go on without him -- he's my best friend and the greatest dad. Of course I'm hoping that he will stay with us as long as possible but we've been derailed by serious reactions to his first chemo treatment and basically struggling day to day for some improvement. Its completely exhausting and frustrating. My eyes ache from all the tears.

Meanwhile my little shop goes on. For some reason unknown to me I have been featured several times on Etsy's front page.

One of my birds nests featured in an Etsy Spotlight.

Its quite ironic when the rest of my life is in chaos.

The Beginning of a New Year!

The vacation is over and the girls went excitedly back to school. I am left with the sad task of putting away Christmas for next year. Taking the holiday decorations down always leaves me melancholy and its a more daunting and less rewarding task than putting them up. This is nothing like spring cleaning and gives me little satisfaction though leaving the tree to curl into a mishappend monster in the corner with very pointy teeth is something I want to avoid. And so this next week will be the task of boxes and wrapping delicate ornaments once again.

One of my creations ended up on the front page of Etsy today! I missed it but some thoughtful person sent me a note. Here is a link to the archived page

After Christmas .... recap of pre xmas prep

This year seemed a bit more unplanned than usual. We did make our norwegian krumkake cookies and lefse for Christmas eve. Our tree was dressed in lights more like a candy cane with alternating white and red strands of lights. This was more of necessity than by design as the new lights we newly purchased were broken. It did however ending looking rather pretty.



The girls concert at Jordan hall before Christmas was beautiful. Their music was beautiful!



This year we have a little angora bunny for the girls. He is getting a lot of love and cuddles and appears to enjoy it.

Getting ready for the holidays

I wish everyone a joyous Christmas and holiday season!


Some Etsy front pages my work was in ...

A very long and exciting road trip!

About the time of my last post on here in March I started planning out our family road trip out west to visit some of our country's beautiful National Parks and my siser's family living in Utah. This basically took up much of my free time during March and April and once May and June came along I was swamped with the children's activities and recitals. This year seem particularly busy with each of three girls old enough to have and abundant schedule of school and after school activities.

So on July 17 we started on our journey out west with my husband and I and 3 girls. The girls had insisted on a road trip having the idea that this would be a fun way to see the country. Our first major destination was the Grand Canyon and this was about 2400 miles from home. I'm not sure they quite comprehended the amount of driving this would involve.

Some notable events on our travels....

Our burnt toast (unbeknown to us) sets off a hotel wide alarm waking everyone in the hotel. We escape with our breakfast and coffee in hand and hit the road while everyone gathers in the lobby to the deafening alarm.

Hydroplaning on a highway in Arizona is not a recommended sport.

Don't even go into Flagstaff, AZ -- you may never get out. The walmart you see in the distance is only a mirage.

Sunrise on the Grand Canyon is well worth the early rise and more fun in pajamas.

Letting the kids climb on the rocks and in trees is a lesson in prayer. Thankfully they returned in one piece.


Luray Caverns







Acoma Peublo









Grand Canyon, South Rim














Grand Canyon, North Rim

Zion National Park












Bryce Canyon National Park












Capital Reef National Park














Arches National Park











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