Crocks that do something!

While looking for some way of organizing my kitchen and bathroom better I came up with a very easy idea.

I had some cannisters that I was not using.  The big crock I use for cooking utensils and the small in our bath to corral all the things near the sink!

That's Tips Tuesday for today!

Hope you have had a blessed day!



Ancestor Finds, Presidents and Kings

If you have not figured it out by now I love history.

Which is a good thing as I travel the trail of the Lynch family tree.

It is amazing what you find.

After finding we were related to George Washington,

we found as we traveled back further that we are related to

Captain Henry Morgan

This totally thrilled the grand kids!

Going abit futher down the bunny trail we find another batch of Kings.

King Aethelred of England 968-1016

King Edgar of England  943-966

King Edmnd I of England 922-946

King Edward of England 874-924

King Alfred the Great of England  848-899

King Aethelwulf of Wessex 795-858
King Egbert of Wessex 769-839
King Ealhmund of Kent
There are more Kings in this line that I am investigating.

Then another trail led to Vikings!
Starting with Richard the fearless Duke of Normandy.

And it ended with King Fornjot, King of Finland and Kvenland. Born 530.

It is amazing to see where all this is leading!
We are excited to see what else is out there.

We are looking forward to watching the series
"Who do you think you are".  Sponsored by Ancestory.com
It is fun to see what they find in each stars background.
It starts Feb. 3rd.

So, have you started looking yet?
You might be as surprised are we are!



Happy Birthday Logan!

We have another young man having a birthday today!

Happy Birthday Logan!

We celebrated all the birthdays early and this is him getting a gift card.

Logan like his brothers, is doing wonderful in school, and he has developed a love of the piano, hopefully we can get him busy playing soon.  I know he will be great at it.

He gets to go hunting soon with his brothers and his dad, so the family will all hunt together and enjoy those memories.

We love you Logan!

Key Fob

Jim has been busy again.

A friend asked him to make a key fob for his father out of Elk teeth.

Please forgive the picture, It is hard to get it where there is not a reflection, but you get the idea.

I think it turned great!

He is my talented one for sure!

Help for the forgetful.

I have so many "helpful hints" that help me that I would like to share, and I was thinking they are not at all big enough to make a complete post...

But I changed my mind... woman's perogitive....

We will make a small post on Tuesdays and call it Tips Tuesday!

Todays tip is simple.  If you like me have had a very bad surprise of  being overdrawn on your checkbook, this might help.  I would check and see, and sure enough I usually forgot an automatic withdrawl.... more than once this happened.  Until I took a small square sticky note and posted it in my register on the page I was working on and it had the dates of each withdrawl on it.  Yes, it is in my way of my record keeping, but that is the point.  I have never forgotten a withdrawl date again!

That's Tips Tuesday for today, have a blessed day!

New Year- New Daytimer

I am a constant list maker.... 

Grocery list.

To Do List.

Short Term Goals.

Deep Cleaning List.

Remodeling Plans.

It could go on and on.

I often joke, my day timer is my brain.

Do I spend alot of money on it each year?

Heaven's NO!

This years model is a Wal Mart Special.

Years ago when the girls were all tiny, I followed the 15 minute organizer to the T, and it kept me organized and going.  This plan had you writing each task you do on an index card, dividing those tasks to daily, weekly and monthly etc.  Putting the daily in front, and then moving them to the back when you do the task.  

Then when I went to the work force again I started making my lists. Lots of them! But, I found I was very upset when I did not finish everything on my list each day. Also I was always making new lists.

Until I devised a very simple plan.  I used a spread sheet like this.

Here is my weekly list.  I check them as I work in each area. Also I add things that are needed for the week at hand. Since I work and my time is limited, I may not have more than a half hour to task.  But most do not need that amount of time to complete it.  I then can make a quick scan of the week and see what needs to be done.  At the end of the week, I can feel good about what has been accomplished.

Then comes other things to plan.

These are the short term goals I am currently working on.  I do not accomplish or finish them in a week, but spend some time on each item during the week.

Going further I have Deep cleaning planned.

I work on 2 rooms at a time, and again, work on each item as I can.  It may take me a month to accomplish these rooms, but some gets done each week.

After that it is dreaming time.

We are in hopes to do some remodeling this year.  We will do one room at a time.

All these little lists fit in that small day timer via a paper clip.  I carry it with me all the time, and am always planning.

What is your system of keeping organized?  I always love to see how people are doing it!

Contentment.

There is a site on Face Book that I have fallen in love with.  It is Positive Inspirational Quotes.

Today they had one on there that sums up how I have felt for sometime.

It is so easy to fall into the if onlys of life....

If only.....

I had a different job.

I lived in a different house.

I had this or that.

Contentment is something we have forgotten about lately... me included.

We all have so much to be thankful for, and yet we overlook what we have.

The grass is always greener... somewhere else we think.

Until we are reminded by the terrible situations of life... that we indeed are blessed.

So, today I am endevoring to change.

Insead of complaining to God or your spouse or friend about...

That job that drives you crazy.

Or that hateful person that is always on your case.

Or what you want and do not have.

Say 3 things about the situation that you are thankful for.

I am thankful for a job in this economy.

I am thankful I have the health to work.

I am thankful for skills that God gave me to work.

It is all in how you look at it. 

I have found that after a day of trying not complain but say my thank you's I am a much happier person!

And look at life alot differently.
Hope it helps you too!





Small stuff.

When our daughter and husband and little girls came to visit during Thanksgiving we went shopping and saw some cute crochet handbands with flowers here and there.  I knew that they would be cute on our little girls, and so easy to make, so while Mom and Dad went out to have dinner with friends, I made a couple of headbands with yarn I had around.  Each girl picked what they wanted for the center of the flower and they loved them.

They were darling on.

For Christmas I also added one of these flowers to our 14 year old grand daughters hat.  She loves black and red together.

I was not thinking in tutorial mode however... so do not have "how-to" pics, but here is the pattern I designed for you to try.

Headband.

Chain 7, dc in 2nd chain from hook, and in each ch across.  6 dc.  Chain 3, dc in next chain and each dc across. 

Continue this pattern until it is the length you need for the person wearing it.  For our little gals it was 24 rows of this pattern.

When you reach the correct length put 2 ends together and sc through both ends to join times 6, fasten off.

Small Flower

Ch 5 and join together at first chain with a slip stitch to form a loop.  Chain 6, sc in original loop, chain 6 again and sc in loop again, and continue until you have 5 ch 6 loops around.  6 dc in the 1st chain 6 loop, sc in 1st sc space, 6 dc in next chain 6 loop, and sc in next sc space around ending in last sc space and fasten off.

Large Flower

Chain5. Join together at 1st chain with slip stitch to form a loop.  Chain 9, sc in loop, chain 9 and sc in loop again until you have 5 ch 9 loops around.  9 dc in the first chain 9 loop, sc in 1st sc space, 9 dc in next chain 9 loop and sc in next sc space around ending in last sc space and fasten off.

Put small flower on top of larger flower, add a button in the center loop and fasten to head band.

Or you can fasten to a hat or bag or jacket.... be creative! 

Good Role model.

We are Colorado kids born and raised, and yes we LOVE OUR BRONCOS.

But more than anything we are proud of this fellow.

He has put up with a bunch of flack for his faith.  But, it has not stopped him.  He still lives his faith, and we appreciated that.

He was raised that way!

Bob and Pam were serving as missionaries 24 years ago when Pam became very ill with Amoebic Dysentery - an infection in the intestine caused by contaminated food or drink.  She soon went into a coma and was treated with very strong antibiotics.

Then...

The doctors discovered Pam was pregnant with their 5th child. 

After she was out of her coma, the doctors urged her to have an abortion as the strong medicines would have damaged their child.  But, Pam and Bob said no.

On August 14th, 1987 a healthy baby boy was born to Pam and Bob.

 And now their son is helping them in their ministry in the Philippines. 

He also preaches in prisons and reaches out everywhere to people. 

This young man is Tim Tebow, the quarterback of the Denver Broncos.

No matter what the outcome of this weekend's game,  Tim Tebow is a winner.  We are very proud of the young man he is, and how he has led his life.   He has won the heart of alot of people, including is team mates.

So, tomorrow you will see Ma and Pa glued to the TV, cheering on this warrior and his team.

Thanks, Tim, for your witness.... and thanks for bringing lots of pride and hope to your "Bronco Nation"

Rolling up my sleeves.

Well, with a new year, comes resoultions.  Now I prefer to call them "promises to myself", because I am much more likely to keep a promise, rather than a resoultion.... because we know resoultions are always broken, in my mind anyway! 

So, that being said, I found a fantasic site via Pinterest. This is on my "Promise" list.

http://www.mysimplerlife.com/2012.htm

This is Beth Dargio, and she is the Declutter queen.  
I am the procrastinator queen.

It is not that I do not want to declutter, heaven knows, living in a home that is under 900 square feet I should be doing that ALL the time, but, sadly do not until it gets on my last nerve.
My days off consist of cleaning, laundry, shopping and spending time with Jim.  If I am blessed to be off on Sunday I get to go to church... other than that I tend to ignore the obvious.  So, I am really pumped to try her day by day approach and see where it leads me.  I will have to double up on a few days to get caught up, but it will be worth it in the long run.

You can go to Pinterest and sign up to have the daily duty sent to your email as well!
I am also adding her to my blog roll if you want to peek now and then.

Her blog is: http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/.

One of my favorite sayings is...
How do you conquer a mountain?
One step at a time.

Who is with me?  Let's roll up our sleeves and "get 'er done"!

Rock lamp, from Jim's workbench.

I think it is high time I highlight my creative husband...

He has done so many creative things and makes beautiful jewelry, and gifts for friends and loved ones.

Here is something he won Craftsman of the Month with Rock and Gem Magazine in July of 2010.

Isn't it beautiful?  He took rocks that we found in Colorado, a used lampshade, and a beautiful wood lamp bottom that my uncle previously had made for my grandmother (wood found in CO) and marble base and made a lamp that is all from Colorado material.  This lamp sits proudly in our living room today.

We are lapidary nuts, otherwise known as rockhounds and our girls were pebble pups growing up.  Jim has and continues to make beautiful intarsia jewelry.  He teaches a class at our rock club as well, and was last years president of the club.  I only wish I did not have a little thing called work to get in my way, as I want him to show me the "tricks of the trade", and we can both create together.  I already know some things like wire wrapping and filigree, but want to learn the silver smithing and cab making and casting. Our dream has always been to go around to fairs when we retire.... maybe some day.

Until then, I will enjoy all the goodies he makes.  I will be sure and share more of his creations soon, so you can see them as well. 



Another Special Young Man

Ok you all know that we are proud Grandparents...

And we have another birthday on Monday!

Cesar is turning 10!

That's him our Super Kid... This young man is so loving and giving, alot like his mom Sherry. He is very protective of his baby brother and all the family.
He was born with some eye problems, but has rose above, and his eye sight has improved, Praise God!
This young man will be building something someday, perhaps like his step-dad. He is always designing, and figuring something out. Always courious and wanting to learn.
 Can't wait to see what God has planned for him.
We love you Cesar, our little Prince.



Happy Birthday Colton!

Today is our grandson Colton's 14th birthday!

He is quite the young man.  He went hunting and got his first doe this year with his dad and brother. He is in gifted and talented classes in school.  Loves the Lord.  Plays an awesome trumpet, making top honors in competitions.

Most of all, he is loved by his Grandma and Grandpa.



One good thing indeed!

I have found a blog I just have to share with you all.

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/ 

This little lady has some awesome ideas, you can find her on my blog roll.  What interested me about her is her recipes for making homemade cleaners from products that you have at home.  They are much cheaper, and much better, not to mention no fumes and such to worry about.

She had a post recently about her version of Shout stain remover.

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2011/12/homemade-shout-stain-remover.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+oneGoodThingByJillee+%28%22One+Good+Thing%22+by+Jillee%29

And I had the perfect test case to give it a go.

I had some melted chocolate candy that I spilt all over my brown pants.  I had used a purchased stain remover before washing, and here is what came out of the dryer.  Uggghhh.

So, I put the ingredients together, most I had at home as they are on my list for other cleaning recipes I use.  I sprayed the pants down well, and was very pleased with the results!

Whoo- hoo.... Thanks Jill!  Can't wait to see what else you have in store!

Who do we think we are?

Back in 2006 we lost Jim's precious sister to cancer.  She was the family ancestor hunter, and we thought she had all of her information on her computer.  But. alas when we looked for it on her computer, we found nothing.  We later found out that it was all in written form, and our brother in law had shared it with one of the sisters.  Before that discovery, I started looking with what little information we had already, and it only took a little bit to find I was an addict to the hunt.... hook, line and sinker!

You have all seen the commercial for Ancestry. com.... put in a name... here pops up a little leaf, that leads you on.  Well, being the scotch person I am, I did not want to spend a lot of money at looking, not knowing what we would find.  So, I started small... and cheap :).

I also went to About.com/genealogy that gave a lot of information, and led me to Roots Web. com which was the free version of Ancestry,and I found alot of information that gave me my base.  There are several sites listed on About.com/genealogy that I checked as well.  Before I knew it we were back to the 1050's on Jim's family, with Kings and Queens in the line.  Each time I went on there was another whoo-hoo moment.  Kiddingly I would tell Jim, he not longer could play with knives and hurt himself... because he would bleed blue.

Now you know I am adopted and found my birth family, so my family tree is quite interesting....I put my adopted name on the Nixon (my maiden name), and my birth name on the Lynch family tree.  My family only goes back to the 1600's however.

So, are you looking for find information on your family?  You like us, can find the information you need without breaking the bank.  We put our trees on My Heritage. com, you can make your own tree and add up to 250 names for free without going to the next level, and having to pay a yearly fee.  250 names came quickly, and we are on the premium level, soon to go to premium plus level. Their cost is not that expensive.  Plus you can print out charts on your family which I did for our family reunion this year.  Everyone loved it! Also, you can invite family members to be part of the site and add the information that they have, so it truly becomes a FAMILY tree.

Here are some sites to start you looking:

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

About.com/ genealogy
Cindi's List.com
My Heritage.com
Ancestry.com

Cindi's blog as well as My Heritage and Ancestry's blog is on my blog roll.  Cindi's List has tons of information. 

So, my challenge to you is to go hunting.... and see what you dig up!  I will warn you it is very addicting!
Our latest find is we are related to George Washington!
Whoo- Hoo!

Putting up Christmas

I always hate to put away the Christmas decorations.... I love having them up.  However,  we must!

Anyone that knows me, knows that I will save items that others won't.  The kids have gotten me past saving bows from presents, (except for when they are not around )  but I still do this before the boxes are put away. 

I go through the beautiful cards that were sent for the year, and cut out some great designs and use these for the gift tags for the next year.  They are unique, and can make the gift when wrapped even more special .  The smaller pieces have little ties to them.  Yes, it's frugal..... but fun!  Now you have a start for the next year!

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2012

Fantastic Day here in Colorado... a little nippy out..
.. but we are chillin here in side and enjoying the day.

I Love a new year.... except having to remember it is 2012 not 2011 when writing something for a bit....

I love new beginings.  I have a new daytimer, new plans for the blog, for the future, if the Lord allows, on remodeling our lil bitty home, and new hopes for what God has in store. No Resolutions, just promises to myself to keep on working on what I know I should be doing.

Looking forward to sharing more things this year and hearing from all of you!