Near-record-setting temps for a January day in Minnesota forces us outside into the slush.  Slush can only be good for one thing...a very heavy snowman!

At some point involving all four members of our household (plus one curious dog), we managed to erect a 6+' dude of snow.  My littlest man is thrilled, and hopefully the sun will stay away long enough for a couple days worth of enjoyment!

Since I'm so often a purger rather than a saver, sometimes I talk myself out of things to "have just because they're beautiful."  For Christmas this last year, Jahred indulged me with something to have for just that very reason and it's even more so enjoyable coming from him (a man of few gifts...no insult intended...I really prefer it this way).

After an art show in December, I came home excited about a guitar I saw there.  A real instrument, hand-crafted, but something I would honestly never learn to play well.  Constructed from upcycled cigar boxes and of very simply construction, I was dreaming of such a piece as a photo prop or as home-dec.

Jahred sought out a guitar (from a local Minnesota artist) and chose the one he thought I would love.  Today I created a guitar strap, in a previously undiscovered fabric to photo with my never-before-pictured, new, frivolous guitar.

The guitar artist is Soup Hunter Guitars.  Don't judge an instrument by it's website, but here's how you can get a hold of them.

Am I a terrible person to think, "I want my kid to stop coughing so I can finally fall asleep?"  Of course I would like him to stop coughing for his own benefit too, but seeing as how I am one crabby mother without sleep, I think we both benefit from a bit of silent shut-eye.

Last night in a last ditch effort to avoid two consecutive nights of coughing/seal barking, I scavenged the internet for ways to relieve Axel's hacking without the use of drugs.

After a brief Google search, it seemed that I uncovered something major when every hit had the word "Vicks" somewhere in the title.

I clicked on the one that included "toddler."

So maybe this is new to only me, but the research was claiming that if you apply Vicks Vapor Rub to the bottom of your kids feet and then put their socks back on, the coughing will cease within minutes.

One site promises this method to be a 100% cure, one site said it works for both kids and adults, and nearly all of them used the magic time-frame of 5 minutes to get results.  They sold me at 5 minutes.

I broke into his room, roused him from his coughy-sleep and lathered his feet.  He didn't seem to mind, in fact I think that part was a bit soothing.  One more kiss and I was off to my own bed...again.  I watched the clock for 5 minutes to pass and got caught up in my book.  Looking at the clock again, I realized it had been about 15 minutes and I couldn't remember the last time he coughed.  He had been coughing almost continuously, if not every few seconds before the Vicks.

Whether it's voodoo magic or simply science, we woke up this morning at 7am.  A full 10 hours with very occasional coughing.

Try it...buy it...you decide.  I'm sold, and will happily rate it's success, not at the 100% (claimed by internet), but at a very peaceful 85%.

So here she is – the partial canoe rescued from certain death by fire.  As she presently hangs from the ceiling above me, I have to point out through the details that things weren't always this pretty.

The exterior color is original and every rock she skipped over has left evidence of itself in scratches.  To the exterior we did nothing but clean, wax and buff.

I gave her a name.  Doing a bit of research I pulled up the names of every shipwreck in the Great Lakes.  The smallest vessel to remain underwater is an 8' boat named the "Penelope."  Assuming this canoe wasn't much longer than the original Penelope, I adopted her namesake and painted it on the side of our treasure.

While the wood of the seat and handle are original, their luster is not.  After a brief sanding we gave them two coats of clear varnish to bring out their age and natural beauty.  The brass hardware is new, the black edging is the same webbing I make my guitar straps out of (plus a tube of E6000 adhesive), and the interior of the boat has been spray-painted gold.

Needless to say, I am totally in love with canoe restoration.  Maybe this will inspire you to look deeper into the banks of your nearest river and dig out a piece of condemned history yourself.

PS - If this was your boat: Finders Keepers!  (Or pay the escalated price of one-million-dollars.)

The new view from my front door.  Also notice the black railing and bit of blue painters tape...an updated photo of our custom staircase to come.

"Your ceiling is your fifth wall."  I remember reading that in a magazine once.

Last weekend I remember telling Jahred, "I hate this vaulted ceiling.  It's dead.  I need to hang something from it, like...a canoe."

Jahred - "I saw a canoe.  In the county park the other day.  Well, only half a canoe.  It was in the burn pile."

Me - "And you're just now telling me this?  Axel, get in the car!!"

We pulled up to a grim sight – a canoe so ugly only a vaulted-ceiling-hater could love it.  We crammed it into the van and took it home.

While the details I will photograph in the natural light of day, here is a preview of where that broken vessel ended up.

If you haven't spent the last few decades in Minnesota, you wouldn't understand the significance of the following, "54 degrees on January 5th."

Axel and I knew the magnitude of yesterdays forecast and immediately took to the parks.  Because our favorite playground is closed due to the inclement weather of our typical winters, we parked outside the chains and high-tailed it inside for a private winter oasis.

The sky was a lovely shade of spring, the faux-grass was evergreen, and our jackets were unzipped.  What a ball we had!

Will we pay for this untimely weather, say in a few months?  Will April snow-showers delay May flowers?  Who knows.  For now we'll air out the house mid-winter and keep our fingers crossed for more of the same.

While the rest of the week is predicted to bring similar meteorological beauty, we may just be sneaking into a park near you!

Happy winter.

About two weeks ago I was driving around Saint Cloud with my brother when my stomach started screaming!  Suddenly it realized how empty it was, and at 10:21am I realized it was asking for only one food – a McDonald's Egg McMuffin – hold the meat.

"10:21," I said to Tyler. "Do you think I can make it?"  Referring to the deadline of 10:30, upon which McDonald's ends their breakfast offerings.

"There's no way Jen," he tried to let me down easy.

Regardless of his nay-saying attitude, I sped through neighborhoods and took one very wise shortcut.  At 10:27 I was in the drive-thru, placing my order.

"One Egg McMuffin please.  Hold the meat!"
"Would you like to make that a meal?"
"Sure."
"Ty, do you want the orange juice."
"Yeah, for sure."

We pulled up to the window and I was a bit concerned about the wait.  One, two, three minutes and we're still waiting to be helped.  Finally the window opens and she hands out the orange juice.  That was all, just the juice.  Tyler began gulping the yummy McDonald's sugar-syrup and I continued to wait.  I was salivating and my stomach was churning.  I could taste the sandwich.

Maybe four minutes later the window opens again. 

"I'm sorry, we're out of muffins.  Would you like to order a lunch sandwich instead?"

What I wanted to say to the lady was this: "What part of 'hold the meat' leads you to believe that I'm a carnivore.  No, I would not like a lunch sandwich, I risked my life and driving record to get here three minutes early so I could enjoy just a bit of quasi-vegetarian junk food."

What I actually said to her was a tearful, "No, I'll just take a refund."

Unfortunately, she only refunded me the price of the sandwich and failed to return the money for the "meal," which I would never have ordered on the false assumption that they would be able to make my sandwich.  I was in a McDepression for the rest of the day...I mean month.

The best thing about a New Year is that you get a bit more crafty.  With my free time this morning, Axel and I did a bit of breakfast shopping and I've come up with the most delightful substitute for my daily-craved McMuffin.

Here's the recipe:
Butter
Salt
1 egg
1 piece of American Cheese
1 English Muffin

Directions:
Simultaneously fry the egg in a bit of butter and toast the English muffin.
Butter the muffin.  Salt the egg.
Apply American cheese while the egg is still in the pan and allow to melt just a bit.
Slide the egg/cheese onto the muffin.
Bite.

While this may not seem revolutionary to you, I have just fulfilled two of the most common New Years resolutions (not necessarily mine): lose weight (as my version of the McBrunch has got to be a bit healthier than the fast-food-giant version), and save money (my McVegetarian costs about 60 cents, theirs is almost $3).

The best thing of all is that I no longer have to make it to the golden arches by 10:30.  I'll be McMuffining anytime of the day for the whole of 2012.  Cheers!

Is it only mothers that feel a bit of relief following Christmas?  With the hype, build-up and child-prep necessary, it seems post-holiday-war I have nothing left to do and am absolutely fine with the silent and mundane once again.

Spending Monday entirely on the couch and the rest of the week tearing down decorations I find myself with a pre-Christmas-clean house and now what?

Surprisingly, although I thought Etsy business would crash after Christmas, it has kept up at a steady clip.  I'm once again about a dozen orders behind and beginning to think that's the way I like it.  Always something to occupy my mind and perpetuate the "career" I have created for myself.

As for New Years, we are planless.  Jahred works the weekend and Axel and I will undoubtedly be playing one continuous round of "cars."  With so much accomplished for my family in the last 12 months, we'll be grateful to be within our own four walls, in our own warm beds as the ball drops over Times Square.

Maybe the best thing about closing out one productive calendar year is the glittering hope that the next one could, just maybe, be even better!

After last minute Etsy orders, and the elves being assigned a few final tasks, I believe our household is ready for Christmas.  We're taking off early today, making plenty of stops on our way to Christmas, and are leaving a few detailed instructions for Santa.  I think the big guy will find us.

The other day we prepared Santa's "favorite" cookies and today we set them out.  My only advice to Mr. Claus is, "HURRY, the elves around here are hungry on their way out the door!"

Merry Christmas to all!  Below you'll find your Christmas card, just for you, my faithful readers!

_Perhaps my favorite day or the year has arrived!  The day when we do something totally ridiculous as a family and spend a bit of cash on pure happiness.  Today of course is my dog's Birthday!  Happy Birthday, Oscar, old chap!

Turning 6 is a momentous occasion for a dog.  It could be considered mid-life for some, but of course my dog will live forever.

With grey fur peeking through around the muzzle and a little "hitch in his giddiyup (from a previous hip fracture)," my earnest Beagle is a little worse for wear, but loved just the same.

Today we began the festivities by baking a batch of Oscar-friendly Birthday Muffins.  Complete with frosting and a loving lick from Axel, Oscar was pleased-as-pie to feast on his own private delight.

Our next stop, as on each of his birthdays. was the pet store.  We used a "birthday coupon" to score a deal on a new brain-teaser/treat-dispenser.

Watching him lounge on the sofa this evening, I'm noticing a shit-eating-grin.  I think he enjoyed his very special sixth birthday.

Oscars Birthday Cupcake Recipe:
1 cup white flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup shredded carrots
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup honey
1 egg
*Mix ingredients in order above.  Heat oven to 350 degrees and bake in a muffin tin for approx. 12-15 minutes.  Makes roughly 9 muffins.

Oscars Frosting Recipe:
6 oz. softened cream cheese
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp honey
*Mix well and frost cupcakes generously.

I recommend giving one to the birthday dog and freezing the rest.  It's always great to have treats on-hand for...say...Valentines Day...Easter...Halloween. :)

Post muffin.  I think he was about to cry.