British Isles

T also received this postcard...

from a special education teacher who lives in North Augusta, South Carolina.

The postcard shows a school room map of the British Isles.

The British Isles is a group of islands off the northwestern coast of continental Europe that consists of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, and over six thousand smaller islands.  Two sovereign states are located on the islands:  Ireland (the Republic of Ireland) which covers five-sixths of the island of the same name, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the United Kingdom).

source:  Wikipedia

Germany

T received this postcard from Germany.

The postcard shows a horse chestnut in blossom near Le Thoronet, France.

Aesculus hippocastanum is a large deciduous tree, commonly known as horse chestnut or conker tree.

The common name "horse chestnut" is reported as having originated from the erroneous belief that the tree was a kind of chestnut (though in fact only distantly related), together with the observation that eating the fruit cured horses of chest complaints despite this plant being poisonous to horses.

The nuts, especially those that are young and fresh, are slightly poisonous.  Although not dangerous to touch, they cause sickness when eaten.  When consumed by horses, they can cause tremors and lack of coordination.  Some mammals, notably deer, are able to break down the toxins and eat them safely.

In Britain and Ireland, the nuts are used for the popular children's game "conkers."

Cultivation for its spectacular spring flowers is successful in a wide range of temperate climatic conditions provided summers are not too hot.

source:  Wikipedia

Finland

T received this postcard today...from Finland.

Actually, it wasn't a postcard...but rather a card (sent in an envelope).  The only thing printed on the back of the card was "Hallmark."

The sender had written on the inside of the card that she is a teacher, on her third week of summer holiday.

She also noted that the temperature at 7:00 am on the date she had written the card (June 19th) was 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).

Flowers

I knew it had been a while since I had made a special lunch for T.  When I double-checked, I discovered it had been almost two months.  :/

So...today, I made this lunch for T.

• three flower-shaped sandwiches (one on white bread and two on wheat bread) with carrot slices for the centers
• flower-shaped tortilla chips
• fresh pineapple in a flower-shaped silicone muffin cup
• caterpillar and butterfly Keebler Bug Bites cinnamon graham crackers

The lunch was well-received.  :)

Linked to:
   What's for Lunch Wednesday
   Fun Food Friday

Barbecue Festival

My husband took a vacation day from work last Friday so he and T could attend the Blue Ridge BBQ Festival in Tryon, North Carolina.  Admission is free from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday.  (At all other times, adult tickets are $8.)

Here is T, ready for some fun!

Here is T, distracted by his reflection in the window of the race car!

Here is T, spinning in the strawberry ride!

Here is T, thoroughly enjoying his ice cream on a hot afternoon!

Yes, my husband is big into barbecue...and takes a vacation day each year in order not to miss this annual event.  ;-)

Wedding Shower

The wedding shower on Saturday for my niece and her fiancé was a fabulous success!  :D  At least two people commented that it was the best party I've done yet!  Yay!!

It was So Much Fun, from beginning to end...including all of the preparations and the party itself.  I can hardly wait to tell you all about it.  :)

The Happy Couple

Thankful

Our water heater sprang a leak late yesterday afternoon...resulting in lots of water to clean up, lots of wet, soggy boxes to go through.  Oh, what a mess, what a chore!

We are told to be thankful in everything.*  I am so thankful...

• so thankful I was home,
• so thankful I noticed the small puddle of water on the garage floor (caught it early),
• so thankful my mom was visiting (and was able and willing to help),
• so thankful my husband was in town (and able to leave work early),
• so thankful my husband was able to fix the problem (and was willing to help with the clean-up),
• so thankful it was not blazing hot outside (as we hauled box after box to the driveway),
• so thankful it was not raining or wet outside.

I dragged my bone-weary body inside the house at 11:30 pm.  I haven't been that exhausted in a while (at least not since the last party I hosted!  haha.)

*1 Thessalonians 5:18  "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Embellished Owls

I found this owl printable...which I printed and embellished.

These owls were intended to be used as bookmarks.  This is what I did:

1. I printed two copies on heavyweight (110 lb.) white card stock.
2. I cut out the owls and glued two of the same color back-to-back.
3. I glued sequins on the front (only) of each.
4. I punched a small hole near the top of each and added a loop of clear monofilament (for hanging).

I found these owl printables...which I printed and embellished.

These owls were intended to be used to make a mobile.  This is what I did:

1. I printed two copies of each color on heavyweight (110 lb.) white card stock.
2. I cut out the owls.
3. I added small flower brads to the eyes on the front (only) of each.
4. I glued two of the same color back-to-back.
5. I punched a small hole near the top of each and added a loop of clear monofilament (for hanging).

Origami Owls

I made two more owl decorations for the centerpiece.

I made origami owls using these instructions.

I added wiggle eyes to the front and glued hemp cord to the back (for hanging).

These were so fun to make!  I love origami.  :)

Newspaper Owls

For the dining table centerpiece, I'm going to put a tree branch in an owl vase. Hanging from the branch will be various owl decorations...some purchased and others handmade.

These are the first two owl decorations I made.

1. I printed this owl pattern onto heavyweight (110 lb.) white card stock.
2. I cut out the body and covered it with pieces of newspaper.
3. I cut out the wing and the face and beak and traced the pattern pieces onto scrapbooking paper.
4. I cut them out and glued them to the body.
5. I added buttons (layered) for the eyes.
6. I glued a piece of hemp cord to the back (for hanging).
7. I also traced the body pattern piece onto scrapbooking paper (same as used above), which I cut out and glued to the back of the owl...to give it a more "finished" look since the back will show when hanging.

Owl Invitations

In a couple of weeks, I'm hosting a wedding shower for my niece who is getting married in July.  For the party, I decided to go with an owl theme.  (My niece likes owls.)  Although I looked high and low for invitations with an owl theme, I was unsuccessful in locating any.  So, I made the invitations.  :)

I purchased kraft note cards with envelopes, owl ribbon, an owl rubber stamp, and a moss green stamp pad.  (Later, I purchased a chestnut brown stamp pad, because the green ink didn't show up very well.)

Don't make the same mistake I did and run out of ribbon halfway through the project!  I misjudged how much ribbon I would need.  I knew the roll contained nine feet of ribbon, and I thought (guessed) each card would require a foot of ribbon...
enough on one roll to make eight cards.  Wrong!  I had to use 16 inches of ribbon for each card to make the knot on the front look right.

Here are photos of the finished invitation.

I printed addresses on labels using moss green ink and the same font (Curlz MT)...
and affixed "Celebrate!" postage stamps.

Also, I added an owl sticker to the back of each envelope.

Additional party details are forthcoming!

Fun Day 2014

My mom and I attended the Chattanooga Miniature Society Fun Day again this year...for two days of miniature-making fun.

I drove to my parents' house yesterday afternoon; my mom and I left for Tennessee immediately upon my arrival.  After a wrong turn or two, we finally arrived to the hotel at bedtime.  :P

The theme this year was "Mother Goose and Friends."  Below are photographs of the centerpieces for the dining tables.  Each centerpiece is based on a nursery rhyme and was made by one of the club members.

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater

Rock a Bye Baby

Old Mother Hubbard

I Love Little Kitty

Little Miss Muffet

Wee Willie Winkie

Aren't they fabulous?