Creative Happenings Here at the Hive

I have been working on being creative here at the hive.  It's not easy to fit it into the schedule but boy do I love to find the time.  It's refreshing for me and good for the soul.

These are my alpaca felt bird ornaments.  I love how they turned out.  They are very sweet and are delectably soft.  Peace doves and other birds.  The felt comes off the felt machine using my mom's alpaca fiber.  It is really fun to play with it.

Painted bottles.  I have been working on these for a while.  I love them.  They are really fun to create and the results are fantastic. I will be working up 150 of these bad boys as wedding party favors for a wedding in Colorado.  They will make an incredible statement.  I can't wait to get started.


What do you like?  What could I improve on?  Is this stuff lame?  Is it likable?  Talk to me people.  Talk to me!

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

As of November 9,  I have been posting this drivel for one year.  Okay, it's not drivel.  Some of it is serious.  Some of it is just plain stupid.  A lot of it is just plain indicative of this family's life.

I enjoy blogging.  Sometimes I really struggle with a topic.  Asking myself, "Should I talk about going to the grocery store, because that is really ALL I accomplished today?"  or "Is cervical cancer an off-limits conversation?"  It does require that I soul search a bit.  But for the most part,  I just let it rip.  And rarely do I offer an "excuse me."

For my one year blogiversary,  (I am embarrassed to use that word, I mean really blogiversary? Does Hallmark make blogiversary cards?)  I got a present.  No it isn't a notebook, or a sketchbook, or personalized stationary or anything paper.  Which would be totally ironic since the only writing I find myself doing doesn't happen on paper at all.  Hmmm.  weird.  Guess what I got?

I got a blogging job.  I KNOW, crazy huh?  Remember this?  Well, out of 700 applicants, I was one of 10 chosen to blog for Park City Mountain Resort as a "Snowmama."

To say I am excited is an understatement.  I am thrilled, exhilarated, totally psyched and over the moon.  It is sure to be an amazing experience.

So to all of 15 friends out there (and I know a couple of you are the same person!)  thanks for hanging out with me.  Thanks for commenting and encouraging and laughing!  Maybe year 2 will be even more entertaining with less run-on sentences.  That would be good.

Cheers, dears!

Get on that pig and hold on tight.

For Mr. T.  A man who inspires 11 to 12 year olds.  God love him.

Add this to my Life Soundtrack because in a matter of 15 minutes I have heard it 330 times.  Baby monkey, Baby monkey....I'll tell you, it's catchy.

Ghouls, Ghosts and Gumballs

Ghouls (Mr. Handsome totally gets into it!)  Hilarious.

Ghost.  Pretty, shimmery, not too spooky ghost.  NAILED IT!  Thank you very much.  She was so happy and grinned like this the entire time.  If I run into a ghost, it better look just like this!

Gumballs.  No better way to decorate than a TON of gumballs.  Black, purple and green.  Yummy and lovely.

52 people at our home that does not hold 52 people.  Lots of costumes, fun and plenty of memories.  Thank you all for showing up and making Halloween 2010 very memorable.  It was so busy I did not take pictures of Elvis or Q or Mr. Handsome (the swamp monster 2) or myself (swamp monster 1.)  We were too busy entertaining.  That's okay.  It was awesome.

on to more serious business. by golly it's November.

5 inches and counting.....

Meet "Susie the Ski-crow."  She was one of 23 scarecrows I helped build at Q and Elvis's elementary school.  It was an incredible, wonderful, enlightening and creative experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.

I highlight Susie because as of this evening I have 5 inches of snow on my sidewalk.  Yep I do.  Uh, huh, it's true.  I'm not kidding.

So, we are planning Halloween (oh yea, we are.  The count for the party is currently at 50 and I'm sorry but have you been to our house?  It so does not hold 50.)  Don't tell Evite.

But, we are really planning skiing.  What do we need?  Who's feet have grown?  Who is taller than they were last year, certainly not me!  In fact, it's possible I  am wider, does that count?

I'm saying "goodbye" to Fall.  You were marvelous, full of wonderful autumnal colors.  I will miss your reds, oranges and yellows.  Hello white.  You are here and here to stay.  Most likely until April.  Without pulling out the Christmas carols, I will welcome you.  We are ready to enjoy the wonders.

Snow angels
Snow balls
Snow men
Sledding
Snow shoeing
Skiing
Brisk fresh cold air
A reminder of what it feels like to be alive
Like diving into the Atlantic ocean in the middle of summer.

Oh there you are my soul.

Welcome, Winter.

Pick Me! Pick Me! I want to be a Snowmama!

I will go to desperate measures.  Clearly, I already have!  Hopefully this gets your attention.  The Park City Mountain Resort has a great program where independent contractors (Snowmamas and Snowpapas) offer helpful advice and answer questions for families that are planning a ski vacation to the resort.  It's located in my beautiful backyard and feel like I have plenty of advice to give.  Those of you who know me understand that I am never afraid to offer some advice.


Skiing with my own children has becoming a fun family event now that all of us are potty trained and for the most part can blow our own noses!  The big kids are almost hard to keep up with  and Elvis sings his whole way down the mountain so he makes for good company.

We love working toward a hot chocolate or a beer (the beer is for me btw) at the end of the day.  Mr. Handsome carries pockets full of Starbursts to keep us all motivated.

We feel so lucky to live in this beautiful place.  It changes throughout the seasons and we greet each season with joy and a tiny bit of remorse.  Can't believe another ski season is upon us....... bring it on!


Pick me! Pick me!

Saying Goodbye to a Friend

He left us last night at 7:30.  We loved him desperately.  He was ours for only a year and half.  He made a difference to all of us.  Emma is heart broken.  He was her soul mate.  The one she woke up in the morning.  The one she waited for at the bottom of the stairs.  The one who shared meals with her.  He gave her life.  

He was my pal too.  I loved him.  I miss him and it's only been 24 hours.  It sucks.

That Naughty Dog was our dog.  He was the best and the worst and we loved everything about him.

Goodbye Titus, you know "Titus" with one "i".

Rest in peace sweet friend.