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  • Life, Love, and Critters – of course!

    ..and a Happy New Year!

    December
    31
    2007

    happy new year from intricateart.com and her whole family of critters!

    Here’s to a New Year filled with a lot of smiles, a lot less hardships, more valuable lessons and hundreds of days to cherish. A year filled with great things, a year to follow your dreams, a year to revive the talents you might have given up on to take the safer path. Trust a little more, grow in your faith, and make those annual baby steps toward becoming the person you’ve always wanted to be.

    We wish you a sense of peace, understanding and love in your life this year, and look forward to the next 366 days. (It’s a leap year!)

    XoXo,
    Leanne & Family
    (Dusty, Cocoa and Quintin, too!)

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    Filed under: Home n' Hearth

  • Merry Christmas!

    December
    25
    2007

    Merry Christmas 2007

    Wishing all of you a very blessed Christmas, full of love, peace and thankfulness.

    Hugs to you and yours!

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    Filed under: Home n' Hearth

  • The Christmas Rush

    December
    22
    2007

    You’d think that with all the running around and the recent worries and stresses in my life would help keep those Christmas Cookies from hanging on to my hips? Absolutely not. Lard is lard, I suppose. Listed in the sweetest of recipe ingredients or on my rear, it seems to have it’s ultimate destination ingrained in the tiniest of lardlike molecules. :grumbles:

    I have my post-holiday work cut out for me then, as I have just 21 days after Christmas (that’s 21 birthday gift shopping days to you, friends) to get back with “the program”, which is basically reaquainting myself with those single serving meals and packing away my cookie sheets for next year. My goal is to hit my comfortable weight by my birthday, smack in the middle of January. Wish me luck. And quit sending me Harry & David!

    Today, I make my annual dough ornaments. I gave the recipe a couple of years ago but here it is again, for those of you who are :cough: bored today and want something creative and fun to do!

    DOUGH ORNAMENTS
    2 cups flour
    1 cup salt
    1 cup water

    Knead, add more flour to make it really doughy if needed, sprinkle water to make it more pliable as needed. Roll on very lightly floured surface, cut shapes using regular cookie cutters of your choice, bake at 250 for 2 hours.

    Handy & Creative Tips:
    – Roll them out on the backside of a non-stick cookie sheet so they don’t need to be transferred to the sheet.
    – Fill in any cracks with water, smooth with your finger.
    – Use a straw to punch out holes for ribbon before you bake them.
    – Once completely cooled, paint them using metallic craft paint, or use a shimmery iridescent glaze over a solid color.
    – Glue foil to the back to reflect the lights on the tree
    – Use glitter sparingly to make them shiny
    – String with ribbon and hang them on the tree!

    Other things I have to share today before I forget:

    • This plugin. This plugin is called the “One Click Plugin Updater”. Once installed and activated, and provided you’re using the most recent version of WordPress – all you need to do is visit your plugins page every now and again and scroll to see which plugins need to be updated, click to “update automatically” and that’s IT. How much easier could it get? There are a few plugins, unfortunately, that aren’t loaded into the plugins directory in such a way that they update automatically. Those need to be updated manually (and you’ll know, because the “update automatically” prompt will not go away). Other than those – it is a sweet little plugin and it will make your blogging life just a little bit easier!
    • I am still decorating my tree here on my blog. Just a couple of ornaments left! Eek!
    • Christmas cards have been sent. Do let me know if you get yours by Christmas – so I know how much earlier I need to get my butt in gear next year! If I don’t know you well, just keep hanging around and I’ll nudge you next year for your address.
    • Mom is home from the hospital! She is happy to be home. She’s still having some blips but I’m told that it’s a side-effect from her meds, so once she is off of them she should be back to her snarky old self – only able to breathe and not have any more chest pain. Yay!
    • Catybug (my little stage queen) was asked to do a reading at Church this Sunday. I found her the most beautiful (and stylish) dress and she is so excited – she gets to read the whole story of Jesus’ birth. My favorite Christmas carol, O Holy Night, will be played on piano while she tells the story. I cannot wait, it is going to be so beautiful! Send kleenex. Love, A Proud Momma.
    • I got a new phone! Whoot! I know. I’m retarded to be excited about a phone. But wait! Let me explain! I’ve had a prepaid Verizon phone for years, just before Mark left for Iraq. While mom was in the hospital though, I blew through well over a month’s worth of a regular plan fee. THAT is retarded. When I found out that “In” minutes are free, and that most of the people I talk to are on Verizon, then I just outright had a “duh” moment. I signed up for a plan online, got a free phone, free activation and now I’m blowing cash to be all cool with my ringtones. Yes, I downloaded O Holy Night! :PHere are my first four downloads:
      – 1234 (TV Version)
      – O Holy Night (Martina McBride)
      – My Stupid Mouth (John Mayer)
      – How Great is our God (Chris Tomlin) – they have this titled wrong, took me forever to find it!

      My only change would be John Mayer’s song – the lyrics that play when the phone rings should be “My stupid mouth, got me in trouble- I said too much again…”, but what plays is “I’m never speakin up again, it only hurts me”, and my choice would be WAY funnier for a ring tone.

    There’s my random blabbering for the day, I do hope you enjoy it – now I must go make some orny-mants before Christmas has passed and/or I don’t know what day it is. (I thought yesterday was Thursday. All day. And I missed a family gathering. Love, Retarded Girl.)

    I hope your Christmas preparations are going well?


    Get in the Christmas Spirit!
    Now Playing : Oh Holy Night
    [audio:ohholynight.mp3]

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    Filed under: Home n' Hearth, In The Kitchen

  • Stage Fright and Delight

    December
    19
    2007

    mini me angel stage freight Church Christmas Program 2007' class=

    Our Church Christmas program took place this past Sunday and it was so sweet and wonderful to see the kids put on a play about Baby Jesus’ birth. The funniest part of the show was seeing my usual kooky crazy Chickeymonkey (see above deer-in-headlights girl) frozen like a statue on stage. Her mouth, which flaps non stop at home, just barely moving while she sung her part – her hands, which only stop when she sleeps, tucked inside of her angel robe holding perfectly still.

    Yes, people turned and gave me the “how cute!” giggle grins – while I sunk lower into my chair wondering how the bodysnatchers got into my church.

    In all seriousness, it was adorable. Every play needs a stage-frightened kid, and mine fit the bill perfectly. I like to think that she just knew all the movement would make for blurry shots, and she knows how much I love to take photos of my kids!

    Meanwhile, my other normally quiet and reserved girl (yes, she is too), beamed and giggled and romped around IN HER PAJAMAS on stage. She was completely in her element and it was really awesome to see her have so much fun playing her part!

    Here she is with our Pastor being all engaged and cute – he had just asked her if she thought anyone would mind if he wore HIS pajamas to church. heh! It was sweet. Her reply: “Well that would be awkward!”

    I just love this time of year – the warm fuzzies floating around the air seem to catch just about everyone. Even my mom, who is recovering slowly but surely (thank you for your continued prayer!), has a peace about her that is really indicative of the season. I’ve found myself being more calm and patient – especially on the road, where I usually tense up and get aggravated really easily. I know we won’t be having any kind of extravagant Christmas this year, but it seems more special anyway. All the stuff and fluff could fall away, and I’d be content to sit in the living room and just gaze at the tree and enjoy the warm glow.

    Are you celebrating Christmas, or just another Holiday? I’m curious, what does Christmas mean to you?

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    Filed under: Home n' Hearth

  • My Momma

    December
    13
    2007

    Today is the day – my mom is going in for Open Heart Surgery at 7:30AM CST. I will update again later today/tonight when I get a chance to let everyone know how things went.

    Thank you, everyone who shared your stories and care and have added her to your prayers. We appreciate everyone’s kindnesses and thoughtfulness.

    I’ll update later today, keep those prayers coming!

    Update: Her surgery went well, thank you all so much!! I’ll update with the details when I get back into town this weekend. Huge, huge hugs to all. xoxo

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    Filed under: Home n' Hearth

  • More Where That Came From

    December
    10
    2007

    foam core large ornaments' class=

    I’m up to my eyeballs in ornaments, folks. In over my head, knee deep, wading through my studio to get out the door. There are twenty of ’em floating around, about 14″ in diameter, drying and waiting for glitter, gloss and ribbon.

    I have exactly two days to get about a weeks worth of stuff done, as I’m pretty sure the Hospital won’t let me go wireless in the waiting room … (er, will they?)

    I’ve maxed myself out on charitable contributions again this year. And by that I mean I am a “yes” girl! I can do it! I can do ANYTHING! In TWO days! YES I CAN! See my giant “ASK ME” flashing banner on my forehead? No? Well look again! Cause if you have another project that needs doing, I’m sure I can squeeze it in!! And I will do it with a smile on my face!

    … I save the grumbling for my wonderful husband, who spent a couple hours cutting all of these out after I made the template and drew them on the foam-core board. And my wonderful daughter who painted the silver tops, and my other wonderful daughter who will be POUT if she doesn’t see some glitter action.

    Somehow though, they will get finished and I will manage to find an extra 30 hours between now and Wednesday so that I’m not in complete panic mode taking a few days off to NOT think or concern myself with anything other than how my Mom is doing.

    It’s amazing how you can really believe you’ve maxed yourself out – but in the end, giving your time and effort away freely can be pretty rewarding, if you are generous for the right reasons.


    Glitter n’ Gloss:
    church foam core craft jumbo ornament project
    Ribbon:
    church foam core craft jumbo ornament project


    Get in the Christmas Spirit!
    Now Playing : Away In a Manger
    [audio:awayinamanger.mp3]

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    Filed under: Chit Chat

  • A Thousand Words

    December
    8
    2007

    christmas photography sisterly love hug photo Leanne Wildermuth 2007' class=

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    Filed under: Home n' Hearth, The Photog in Me

  • Our Tree

    December
    7
    2007

    Our Christmas Tree - 2007' class=

    Our tree is up and fully decorated.
    You can see a neat photo of our topper here.

    How’s the decorating coming at your house?

    Get in the Christmas Spirit!
    Now Playing : O Christmas Tree
    [audio:ochristmastree.mp3]

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    Filed under: Home n' Hearth

  • When I’m Not Working,

    December
    6
    2007

    425brr.jpg
    When I’m not working, I’m freezing, people. Holy cannoli, it was NINE lastnight. Nine. Nine degrees. Ugh. That is just stupid cold. Really. How do I manage to forget every year that this part of the country really stinks and WHY haven’t I moved to a warmer climate yet?!

    I am the type that, once frozen, does not thaw until Spring. My nose is cold. My fingers are numb from the second knuckle up. My eyes are dry and my toes are shivering. The only thing I want to do in the winter is curl up under my blankie and/or bake. Yes, bake. Brownies, cookies, cakes, whatever – just keep the dang oven on and don’t turn it off ’til March. Oh and this is SO not good for my *cough* girlish figure! Not good at all. Dang Betty Crocker and her Super Deluxe Moist Turtle Fudge Brownie goodness. I will smack her if I ever meet her.

    * * * * *
    I do have a question for you today, if you’ve made it this far (thank you, the check is in the mail.) – My mom is undergoing Open Heart Surgery next week. (I capitalize because that is a surgery that demands some respect, IMHO.) Now she truly needs this surgery and it will greatly improve her health, so I am relieved that it’s proceeding, finally.

    I would really like for you to share with me a story or tidbit about you or someone you know who has undergone Open Heart and tell me how they are doing now. Truly, I ask because my feeling is that medical technology is such that there is less to fear now than ever before – my concerns are with recovery and the mental processing of having the surgery. So please share your experience, and also – if you could keep my mom in your prayers I would be most grateful.

    Stay Warm!!

    Get in the Christmas Spirit!
    Now Playing : Frosty the Snowman

    [audio:frostythesnowman.mp3]
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    Filed under: Home n' Hearth, The Great Outdoors
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