The flood of 2012

Who would have ever thought that the city on the hill, Duluth Mn would flood?? We have had over 10 inches of rain since yesterday and there is more coming. The entire city is under a state of emergency. Many businesses closed today because so many roads were impassable. I have never seen anything like this ever before. Here are some photos that I took around town today. 

 This is Chester creek

 Everything was washing downtown, many streets were covered with mud, rocks and debris!

 Chester Park

 Side of a road washed away

 More road damage

 half of this road just gave away, the dirt underneath washed away.

 This is a car lot, it is full of cars, many just can not be seen anymore!

Here is where our camper was parked last night, good thing the hubby thought to move it, otherwise we would have lost it! 

 This is that same spot this morning!

 My front yard...

 There is water coming across the entire length of the driveway.

 My garden, under about a foot of water, I am sure it will all rot. But this is the worst of our damage, we are very lucky. The house is fine and we have no major water damage.

 and my peonies are still blooming!

 This is the creek in the front of my house, the water has come down about a foot from where it was earlier today.

 and well, I got new boots, if I couldn't justify them today, then I never could!

Junky Planters!

This weekend I finished up all of my planting! The garden is in, the beds are all weeded and I filled all of my junk with flowers! 

 This old wheelbarrow was perfect for a tin container full of succulents!

 Same with the tool box! I plan to bring them indoors in the fall!

 Here is my potting bench, with a cute little pot to hold all of my tools! Now if only I could get the kids to put them back when they are done diggin up worms!

 This is an old lamp, turned into a planter! I just love it!

 Blooming!!

 Here is the front of the house, my porch is my favorite spot to sit and read while drinking my coffee, my latest book....everyone is talking about it, and for good reason! 50 shades of Grey!! I am on book 2 and love it!!

 I love bird feeders, but the crows keep eating all of the food!

 Isn't this cool! Made with old license plates!!

 I even have a "junky" owl!

 This is my latest trash to treasure! Found the empty barrel at work ready to go in the dumpster! It was a shipping crate of some sort! I brought it home and filled it with red begonias!

Are you done planting? 

What type of junk do you plant in?? 

Well there is always June

I really thought I was going to do "Photo a day May". FAIL! 

I had really good intentions and then life just got in the way. 

So here is what I have been taking photos of this month. 

Bella Reece

My new niece, born April 18. 

Sweet Makayla

Turned 4 this year, we had a great time doing her photos! 

 And My mom's greenhouse is in full bloom! Who doesn't love spring flowers!!

I would like to think I will do "photo a day June", but I am not committing to it just yet! 

Photo a day MAY Day 1, 2 & 3

I have decided to do Photo a Day May!

Each day is a new assignment. I am looking forward to the fun Challenge! Here is Day 1, 2 & 3

Day 1:

 Peace

Day 2:

Skyline

Day 3:

Something I wore today

I hope to upload each day going forward! 

You can find the info to photoadaymay here

Happy Shooting!

Recyceld Wool Sweater Throw

Once again I have been pinspired by a blanket that I saw, made from old recycled wool sweaters. 

So I finally made one for myself. I started with about 6 wool sweaters and then quickly realized I needed at least 6 more. I washed all the sweaters and dried them on high to shrink and felt them. 

 Then I started cutting my squares. They are 5 x 5, and I ended up with 192 total squares. I had it laid out on the floor for weeks as I kept adding to it, making it bigger and re-arranging the squares.

Then I decided that it still needed something. I originally had hoped to find a sweater with some fun striped print, but there was no such luck. So I made some fun owl appliques from other sweaters. 

Once I added them in, it still felt like it needed something more. I decided to get out my wool roving and needle felt some of the squares. And then my boys wanted to help, so I taught them how. They had so much fun, and all of our squares were done free hand. They did great! When they finished I used my sewing machine to sew their names on each square that they made. 

Finally I was ready to start putting it all together. I stacked each row and began sewing. It only took me about 2 hours to get all the squares sewn together. 

I bought a microfiber blanket for the back and a layer of batting for the middle. 

I stacked my layers and sewed it all together. Then I turned it inside out and realized that I had my stack layered wrong, and the batting was now on the outside. So I had some wine. And then grabbed the seam ripper. This took days.

I had to seam rip each stitch, there was no pulling it apart since it was all made from sweaters. 

The kids helped me "un-sew" it. I had been working on a little bit each night, and then one day I came home and my hubby had finished it for me! 

So today I was finally able to put it all back together. 

 I am very happy with how it turned out!

 So is Zach!

This is by far the warmest blanket I own! It was fun and easy to make and is now an amzing family keepsake. I love the art my boys added to it. 

Happy Sunday! 

Let's pretend this never happened

I started listening to the audio version of this book today. I began reading her blog after the giant metal chicken story, this book is written & read by the bloggess herself & it is by far the funniest book I have ever read! I highly recommend it. I was laughing out loud all day! 

Oh and one more thing:

Congrats Jenny!! 

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

 I had some bananas that either had to be used or tossed. So I went to my favorite site & I found a recipe on pinterest, but quickly made some changes to make it my own! 

I have eaten 2 since they came out of the oven, and am guessing that after my kids & hubby have them for breakfast, they will be gone! 

Here is how:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 medium bananas, mashed
1 egg
1/2 cup milk 
1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 packages (individual serving size) Quaker apples and cinnamon instant oatmeal
3/4 cup sugar
1 pkg mini chocolate chips

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375*F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners and set aside.In a bowl, with an electric mixer on low, mix together butter, bananas, egg, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, baking soda, powder, and salt until well combined.In another bowl, mix together flour, oats, and sugar. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix together until just combined, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary. Add 3/4 bag of mini chocolate chips & stir by hand.  Scoop batter into the 12 muffin cups. 

Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Cool on a wire rack. 

Enjoy!!!