Frosty and foggy

This is my front yard!

Ok these photos are actually from a few days ago, but I just got around to getting them off my camera. The morning was so foggy it was creepy. I felt like I was in a bubble!

Baby, It's Dangerously Cold Outside!

I can't believe it got even colder! At 8:15 this morning it was -21 degrees in my yard. The poor animals! I made sure to restock the birdfeeder. I quick snapped these pics.

puffed up little chickadee

TTV snapshot out my back deck...may even be the same chickadee

I try to give the birds water all winter by using a heated dog bowl. It keeps the water just above freezing. The rock in the center makes it easier for the birds to drink. You can see the frost is creeping in.

DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND CHILLS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY

So says NOAA

No school today. Not a snow day but a cold day! It was actually announced yesterday. Good thing too, we got to sleep in. Even so, when I got up at 8:30 this morning, it was -16 degrees!!! The news said the wind chills were -30 to -40.
Right now it is a balmy -3. Almost summer *grins*




Since it is sunny, we have spent a cozy day basking in the sun of our livingroom. Cold days also mean crafty days.....I signed up for an owl softie swap on Swap-bot. I've never made an owl before so this is my "test" owl. Emma decided to make one too. I think I like hers better :-D

Now I have to get started on my swap owl. I also have an anti-Valentines dotee to make.

****edit****
No school Friday either!

A Few New Collages

This collage is cardboard with cotton fabric from an old sheet on either side. I left the top larger to add some kind of hanger. Not sure what though??????

I really need to find better bulbs for my light box. The photos are still too dark. Oh, I know I can mess with them in Photoshop. But then it seems to change the other colors too much. I'm not real good with these photo editing programs.

Collage on hard book cover -will hang with ribbon

Collage on a hard book cover -will hang with ribbon

Collage on wood

Winter Chunky book

I've decided to do some more swaps...I think they help keep the creative juices flowing. Plus it is fun to get mail that is not a bill!
For this swap-bot swap, I needed to make a Winter themed chunky book. I played with a few ideas, including using photos I took in our yard. I came across an old photo of a chubby baby all bundled, so I ran with it. The book is kind-of cutsie, really shabby chic style. I included this Robert Louis Stevenson poem on the facing pages


Picture-Books in Winter

Summer fading, winter comes--
Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs,
Window robins, winter rooks,
And the picture story-books.

Water now is turned to stone
Nurse and I can walk upon;
Still we find the flowing brooks
In the picture story-books.

All the pretty things put by,
Wait upon the children's eye,
Sheep and shepherds, trees and crooks,
In the picture story-books.

We may see how all things are
Seas and cities, near and far,
And the flying fairies' looks,
In the picture story-books.

How am I to sing your praise,
Happy chimney-corner days,
Sitting safe in nursery nooks,
Reading picture story-books?
--------
I love how the fabric and cardboard combo turned out. Torn uneven edges...smeared with gesso, papers sanded raw, and fun embellishments. I hope my swap partner likes it. I hate giving it up. I think from now on I have to make two of everything so I can keep one!

critters

Since I wasn't blogging for a few months I never got to introduce Bandit, our new guinea pig. We got this cutie back in September. He's a bit more skittish than Patch. Bandit is hard to photograph becuase he seems to be afraid of the camera!
With a second GP, we needed a bigger cage. I made this one using ideas from Cavy Cages.
It was very easy to make. I used coated wire cube shelf pieces from Target, zipties (cable ties) and coroplast (sign plastic). We have storage underneath and the little guy are off the floor so it isn't as drafty for them. Oh, the paper sign is in dragon runes and it says "Here be guinea pigs". *grins*
This is Emma's budgie named Echo. He's very sweet and friendly. We are accumulating quite a bunch of critters!