Tales of a Shoebox Princess

We finished the 5000 piece puzzle! Jim and I worked most nights and weekends on it and it still took  nearly a month and a half. We didn't do it like we do smaller puzzles, you know, fill in a section and move on to the next section. That method didn't really work with this puzzle because there were so many similar colors all over the puzzle, especially flesh colored pieces. We tried doing line pieces all at once and were partially successful, but there were line pieces all over the puzzle as well. It really was difficult. And sorting through puzzle pieces was difficult because there were JUST SO MANY OF THEM. Near the end, Katie made it easier by suggesting that we sort the pieces into piles by shape and that made the end go much faster. Katie has come over the last two nights to be a part of the finishing of the puzzle and we had a good time. Last night, we played fun music, I mentioned how Jake and I used to play Twisted Sister while we did puzzles, and I had Alexa play ...

Still a ways to go. We lost power last night in the middle of an unreasonably cold snap. -26 degrees and we had no power. And the windchill was (and still is) in the -50 range. We were getting ready for dinner, I was just starting some green beans, the ham and potato casserole was almost done, and the TV was on. And then it wasn't. And then we were in the black. But thank goodness for cell phones and their flashlight capabilities and the 4G network that still worked so we could complain about the power outage on facebook. I got out all my big candles, and Jim found a battery operated LED lamp so we at least had some light. The casserole was removed from the oven and we ate standing in the kitchen. We sat on the couch and read our tablets. We had enough battery power in them to use them for a few hours without recharging. I eventually had to grab a blanket because the temp in the house started to dip, but only 3 degrees by the time the power went on an hour and a half later. W...

I got an unassembled robot puppet for Christmas. I've wanted my own Tom Servo for years and I finally got one for Christmas. It's been the second gift on my wish list for years (#1 is sea monkeys, but I've about given up hope that I will ever get any) I started the robot puppet assembly with Christian's help (mostly his tools) and his unwanted advice (LOL, Christian was actually right a couple, well, all of the times. AND HE WASN'T SMUG ABOUT IT AT ALL. Oh, wait, yes he was). So far, I have carved off a plastic look on Tom's lower beack, drilled several holes in various components, and sanded the parts to be painted. I'll post more pics as I continue working. I also got a 5000 piece puzzle from my antagonistic son-in-law, the aforementioned Christian, who seeks my committment to a mental health facility.  there are naked people in this puzzle picture. the beginning first pieces joined Hayley liked to help. Paul liked to be on...

Birthdays are good days. I don't do much reflection; I just enjoy the day.  I walked at the dome before work and that always starts the day off well. I couldn't control how work went, but luckily, the load was light and I was able to get tasks completed without too much interruption or too many problems. All children checked in over the course of three days so they remain in the will. All siblings and parents made contact in various forms as well. It was just a day to be happy and grateful, and to let go of troubles and stress. I can do that much more easily now that I have no little children in my care. After work, Katie and all came over for dinner and cake. Both grandkids were excited about eating cake, although there was some concern over whether Jackson would have room for cake in his stomach, since he ate 7 meatballs at dinner and wanted more. He really liked the meatballs. The cake was lovely of course. Katie does a bang-up job. I requested the snowflakes as a throwb...

Blog title means nothing. I haven't done a 10 things list in a while and there are a few odds and ends that I want to remember. I already forgot one thing once and it took me awhile to remember it. 1. Jackson wanted me to do "Here is the church, here is the steeple" in church last Sunday. So we did it and when I got to the last line, "They all go away," Jackson paused, then said, "Behind your back." Way to be a literalist, Jackson! I had a good laugh (but a quiet one, since we were in Sacrament meeting). 2. Also re "Here is the church", last night, we were driving home from Katie's Windjammer concert, and Jackson informed me that I need to learn a new verse for Here is the church because it's wrong. I asked him what was wrong with it, and he said, "after the prayer, some people go to Primary or Nursery, not home." He is figuring out stuff and comparing things he has been told with his experienced reality. I freaking LOVE...

Jim and I have been to Dry Tortugas before , but it was so beautiful and peaceful that we had to go again. And this time, Jim was feeling fine (no passing out, no devil's eyes, no mental confusion) and we were going to snorkel this time!  The catamaran ride is 2 hours of bouncing around, watching the water go by. Jim took dramamine, and I apparently don't get seasick. I get carsick very easily, but stick me on a boat and I'm just fine. the view off the boat I could take pictures of the walls for hours. I like the look of a receding wall.   There are jellies in the moat, but hard to see in the pictures We are getting sunburned proof that I was there (again) the required photo pose for Fort Jefferson. I got my national parks passport stamped too. Most difficult one to get! Look at those vanishing points! No pictures of us snorkeling, but we had a delightful time! I have issues when I first stick my head in the water, but after I rem...

No, I don't have marriage advice. (Except choose to be happy, and when you can't be happy, remember that eventually you will get to a point where you can choose to be happy again. Unless there is abuse and then seek help if possible. Sigh. I have not had experience with spousal abuse so my help is woefully inadequate there) OK enough of that. Really, I don't have marriage advice. What works for us is different than what works for others, etc. Keys. As in Florida Keys! 30 year anniversary necessitated a big trip. Plus Jim owed me a return to the keys after he caused us a 48 hour suppression of vacation activities on our 25th anniversary trip to the keys. Thank you, vasovagal syncope. The flight to Ft Lauderdale was a red-eye and the guys who sat behind us were AWFUL. They didn't seem to realize that everyone on the plane just wanted to sleep. They were raucous, foul-mouthed, disruptive, and LOUD. Thankfully I brought ear buds because I turned to music to drown ou...